Marcelo Bielsa amazed by Barcelona teenage superstar – ‘Just like Messi…’ | OneFootball

Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa is known for being a stickler for rules – a powerful man manager who prefers to keep his players grounded.

From the outset, it would appear that Bielsa is a kind of manager who wouldn’t prefer having someone like Lamine Yamal in his team, given the bad press he has received owing to his parties, girlfriends and regular trips to beaches.

However, in a recent interview, Bielsa has strongly defended Yamal, lauding his abilities on the pitch and downplaying his off-field activities.

Bielsa defends Lamine Yamal

Talking about Yamal’s attacking prowess, Bielsa was very apt with his words.

“If you have a player like the Barça winger [Lamine Yamal], who you give the ball to and it doesn’t matter if there are two or ten players in front of him, he dribbles past them anyway. That type of player solves the offensive game,” he said (h/t SPORT).

“He breaks the analysis and makes his team better because he removes opponents on his own, without anyone’s help,” he added.

Having coached teams like Leeds United, Marseille, as well as the Argentine national team, Bielsa knows what it’s like having a technically gifted player in the team.

Marcelo Bielsa appears to be a huge fan of Lamine Yamal (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

During his time at Leeds, Bielsa’s role was influential behind the rise of current Barcelona superstar Raphinha, who is now the partner-in-crime for Yamal in the final third.

The current Uruguay national team manager went on to compare Yamal with Messi, arguing that neither players require any assistance in the final third.

“He doesn’t even need powerful passes, because he’s given simple lateral balls, he receives them and dribbles past everyone. Just like Messi and other players who change games,” he said.

“Mbappe or Cristiano Ronaldo need playmakers, but both Messi and Barça’s winger don’t need playmakers; they just need lateral passes with a defender in front. So if you have that resource, everything related to structure doesn’t matter,” he added.

Finally, when discussing Yamal’s off-field activities, Bielsa alluded to the point raised by Spain manager Luis de la Fuente.

“De la Fuente is shrewd and explains that Yamal’s off-field activities don’t matter because he trains six hours a day, spends two hours in the gym, eats well, is monitored by a physiotherapist and a kinesiologist, and is required to sleep a set number of hours.

“Sure, he has a girlfriend and goes out at night, but what do journalists highlight? Those holiday outings that are broadcast in an attractive way, or this methodical rigour?” he concluded.