Lamine Yamal has made it clear that Barcelona are not interested in playing down their Champions League ambitions this season, insisting the club must believe it can compete for European football’s biggest prize.
In a new preview of Movistar+’s Universo Valdano, as relayed by Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona forward described the team’s growing obsession with the Champions League as a positive rather than a distraction.
For the teenage forward, anything less would be an unnecessary surrender of ambition.
“It’s good to be obsessed with the Champions League; it would be very cowardly of us not to believe that we’re going to go for it this year.”
Yamal welcomes Champions League obsession
Barcelona have entered the season with the European competition among their priorities, and Yamal believes that mentality can help in the latter stage of the season.
Lamine Yamal is targeting Champions League glory with Barcelona. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)
“I see it as a good thing; it makes me happy that people come into the dressing room thinking we can win it,” he explained.
There is one important distinction for the teenager, though. Confidence cannot become certainty.
“I think the problem would be if someone went out and said we’re going to win it no matter what, because you can never know that for sure,” he explained.
Barcelona believe they have the quality
Yamal was particularly emphatic when explaining why the Champions League should be such a prominent target for Barça.
“I think being obsessed with winning the Champions League is a good thing; at the end of the day, we’re Barça, and Barça have had periods where they were the best team in history and have won the Champions League.
Lamine Yamal is confident about Barcelona’s chances. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
“We’ve got the squad to achieve it, and it would be very cowardly of us not to believe that we’re going for the Champions League this year.”
La Liga also in Barcelona’s sights
On the other hand, the Champions League will not come at the expense of domestic ambitions, according to Yamal.
“In fact, we’re going for La Liga; we can win both La Liga and the Champions League.”
The Barcelona forward also stressed the importance of collective resilience when matches turn against them.
“We have to act as a team and stick together through those twenty bad minutes,” he concluded.
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