Alaves left-back hails Barcelona prodigy as one of the best in the world – ‘Every day that passes…’ | OneFootball

Ahead of tomorrow’s crucial clash between Barcelona and Alaves, Manu Sanchez shared his thoughts on the challenge of facing one of the world’s best teams.

As Barcelona continue to maintain impressive form, Sanchez acknowledged the difficulty of the task but also pointed out that there have been moments when the team has not been at their absolute best, with Las Palmas and Leganes managing to secure victories.

This gives Alaves a small window of opportunity, though Sanchez is well aware of the need for unity, patience, and hard work.

“We know that they are one of the best teams in the world and they are in good form right now, but there have been games in which they have not been on top form. Las Palmas and Leganes have already won there,” he told Mundo Deportivo.

He emphasized that his team must remain compact, wait for their chances, and be ruthless when they do arise.

“We have to be very united and be patient while waiting for our opportunities. We have to work hard, know how to suffer and be effective when we have scoring chances.”

Lamine Yamal – the Best

Manu Sanchez says Lamine Yamal is one of the best players right now. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Sanchez, who plays as a left-back, is likely to come up against one of Barcelona’s standout stars, Lamine Yamal. When asked about the challenge of facing the young forward, Sanchez had high praise for his ability and growth as a player.

Every game, Yamal shows his brilliance and the more time he spends on the pitch, the more confidence he gains.

“Every day that passes he shows that he is a great player, with more and more confidence. In every game, he does something great. It’s fantastic, he’s already one of the best in the world,” he stated.

“It may not be said because of his youth, but he really is. What he brings to the team is incredible.”

How to stop Yamal?

Manu Sanchez admits stopping Yamal would be difficult. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

However, when it comes to defending against Yamal, Sanchez admits it’s a tough task. The forward’s agility, speed, and ability to make something special happen in each match mean that Sanchez must be at his best.

Staying close to him and not allowing him to turn freely will be essential to keeping Yamal at bay. Sanchez will need to be aware of the forward’s every move, preventing him from finding the space to unleash his magic.

“That’s a good question! It’s quite difficult. You have to try to be very close to him and pay close attention to him. Make him uncomfortable and make it difficult for him to turn around.”

It’s a challenge, but one Sanchez is ready to face as Alaves look to frustrate Barcelona and make the most of any opportunities that come their way.