Marcus Sorg talks Yamal, Lewandowski, and post match clash after Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona | OneFootball

Barcelona tasted their first defeat to Real Madrid in the Hansi Flick era, as they tasted a 2-1 loss to Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu.

Interestingly, Hansi Flick was not available on the touchline for Barcelona as he was serving a suspension. In his stead, Marcus Sorg took charge, and despite his best efforts, the German simply couldn’t guide Barcelona to a draw.

Speaking to the media after the game (h/t Diario AS), Sorg talked extensively about Lamine Yamal, who was a key focal point of the match.

What Sorg said after Barcelona’s loss to Real Madrid

Sorg admitted it was a tough day at the office for Lamine Yamal, who was not only booed but also a subject of some questionable treatment by Real Madrid players.

“It wasn’t an easy day for Lamine today. We talked at halftime about the need to put him in more one-on-one situations, but in the first half, we didn’t give him many of those situations, and the same in the second half.

“They defended well, and we have to accept that, but I think he tried everything, and sometimes the defenders did a good job, and we have to accept that too,” he said about Yamal and the game at large.

Coming back to the Yamal point, Sorg highlighted how the youngster still has a lot to learn, and games like these are just a part of the process.

“They often play 2v1 against him, trying to prevent him from approaching the penalty area or entering it to shoot and everything. This is normal, but he is young and needs to develop, and we will help him with that,” he said.

The Barcelona assistant manager admitted that the hostile environment at the Bernabeu did play a role in impacting Yamal’s performance.

“Perhaps a little. Because he is also learning how to deal with the crowd, and with the chants and whistles from the spectators, and this is part of the process, and I think this is normal. But he is usually motivated and plays well, and today it wasn’t easy for him,” he said.

It was not the best of performances from Lamine Yamal. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Marcus Sorg, though, urged everyone to back Yamal, given his age, relative lack of experience and the fact that he is coming back from an injury.

“Lamine has returned from injury and needs to regain his rhythm and needs more matches at the highest level, and I think this is natural because he is only 18 years old. So we have to give him time and support him, and we will all do that together,” he said.

“And as for me, it is natural that the defenders or opponents try everything to defend well and adapt this season, so we have more work with him to help him deliver his best version on the pitch again,” he added.

The Barcelona assistant manager was notably asked about the post-match confrontation between the two sets of players, with Yamal also being involved.

Sorg, though, has not much idea about the clashes.

“Honestly, I don’t know who started the trouble. In the end, there were a large number of people between the two teams’ benches, and a lot of shouting. But I think we have to accept it and focus on the match itself,” he said.

The German also talked about tactics and his decision to take off Marcus Rashford at the end to introduce someone like Ronald Araujo.

“In the end, we wanted to change the structure. We wanted to challenge the defenders with a new task, and that was the reason. Last week we did the same thing too, and I think it’s very important to change something.

“This was also the reason for our switch from a back four to a back three and putting another player up front with Ronald, to change the situation and create more opportunities,” he said.

Araujo was indeed the hero for Barcelona in the last game against Girona. But he was unable to find himself in a scoring position against Real Madrid.

“We tried everything. We played in the end with only two defenders, and our goal was to create more opportunities. We knew they were always good at counterattacks. And in the end, we didn’t create enough chances to score the second goal,” Sorg added.

Finally, Sorg talked about Robert Lewandowski and whether or not his absence was a major blow for Barcelona, who lacked the presence of a bona fide number nine against Real Madrid.

“Lewandowski is a real striker and a scorer, and we miss him a lot, but this is the reality, and we have to deal with it. In football, injuries happen, but we don’t want to complain about everything, whether it’s injuries or referees or wrong decisions or other things.

“In this way, we can improve our team. The season is long, and we still have 28 matches ahead of us, and we’re not afraid of the current situation, because we have enough matches, and we’re not just two matches away from the end of the season,” he concluded.