Yamal taunts Simeone before Atlético v Barça rematch: “Do me a favour” | OneFootball

Barcelona faces a tough challenge against Atlético de Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, although belief reigns behind closed doors. Lamine Yamal made it clear that the team has everything it takes to turn the tie around after the 2-0 defeat at Camp Nou, and he even went as far as sending a defiant message to Diego Simeone, whose setup in the first leg kept him from shining.

The Barça star was emphatic when analyzing the scenario, however difficult it may seem: “Coming back would not be a miracle.” He also reinforced his stance with a promise full of commitment: “We promise that, if we are eliminated, it will be fighting until the end. We won’t leave a single minute without pressing, without running. We will give everything for this badge. It will be ninety minutes or more. It’s not over, I’m sure of it. The comeback is very possible and that’s why we’re here.”

Yamal is only 18 years old, but he already has several knockout matches under his belt. At the press conference, he spoke about his competitive maturity despite his young age and admitted that he has lived with pressure since his early days at La Masia: “I’ve been lucky that from a very young age I’ve had more responsibility than I should have. I’m a bit used to it. I don’t think about whether others have gone through it, it’s not a problem for me, but a strength. I enjoy everything with my teammates. The confidence they give me is gold to me, that means everything.”

Brimming with confidence, the winger said he is arriving in top form and eager to be decisive. He even dared to challenge the Argentine coach with a footballing wink. “I’ve always said that at the start of the season my level was questioned a lot, the pubalgia too, and I wanted this moment to come, when the real players step up. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow,” he said. And he added: “Yes, I feel very good, really eager for the match, yes, I’m motivated. I think I can make the difference. Let’s see if Cholo does me a favor and leaves me one-on-one with one of his players.”

On the eve of this Tuesday’s key clash, the forward also spoke about his inspirations. He mentioned LeBron James as an example of the mindset needed to overturn adverse situations, recalling the historic NBA comeback: “He is one of the references who can inspire me for tomorrow’s match. That’s why I posted him. I’ll think about how he did it and hopefully it works out the same for me.”

At the same time, he brought up one of his greatest football references. A hero in the 6-1 win over PSG in the 2017 Champions League, Neymar appears as an idol who shaped his childhood and motivates him in these kinds of challenges: “I’ve watched him many times, I saw him live too. He’s a player who marked my entire childhood, he’s my idol and I’ll be grateful for what he has given to football. He inspires all of us. Three days after the match, you would watch it again just to see his plays.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.