Barcelona’s young forward Lamine Yamal has made it clear where the club’s priorities sit this season: the Champions League is not a distraction, it is a target. In a new preview of Movistar+’s Universo Valdano, as relayed by Mundo Deportivo, the teenage forward insisted that the team’s growing obsession with Europe’s biggest prize is a good thing — and that anything less would be cowardly.
The teenage forward wants the dressing room to feel the same way. He is not afraid to say what he thinks, and he is not afraid to commit to the Champions League.
Yamal’s case for obsession
Yamal’s argument is simple: wanting to win the Champions League is not a problem, it is a mark of ambition. He wants the dressing room to feel the same way.
“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,” he said.
He explained that the confidence he feels should not spill over into certainty. That is where the line gets blurred.
“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 said.
“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.”
Why the obsession matters
Yamal’s reasoning rests on history. Barcelona have won the Champions League before, and he believes the current squad has the quality to do it again.
The distinction he draws is important. Believing you can win is one thing. Saying you will win is another.
He also points to the collective nature of the challenge. Winning the Champions League takes a squad effort, and he knows the team has to hold together when things go wrong.
“We have to act as a team and stick together through those twenty bad minutes,” he concluded.
The league is not forgotten
Yamal is not suggesting the Champions League comes at the expense of domestic ambitions. Far from it.
“In fact, we’re going for La Liga; we can win both La Liga and the Champions League,” he said.
That is the balance he wants to strike. Barcelona want to win both competitions, and he sees no contradiction between the two goals.
The squad question
Yamal’s central claim is that Barcelona have the squad to achieve it. His reference to Barça’s past suggests he understands what the club has done before. He is drawing a line between what the team can do and what it has done.
The limits of certainty
Yamal’s caution about certainty is the smart move. He knows that promising a title before the season starts is easy. Delivering on it is much harder.
He has also shown an understanding of the risks. Overconfidence can be dangerous, and he does not want the team to fall into that trap.
Yamal’s position
| Position | Yamal’s view |
|---|---|
| Champions League ambition | Good thing; essential |
| Certainty of winning | Problem; cannot be promised |
| Domestic league | Going for La Liga; possible to win both |
| Squad quality | We’ve got the squad |
| Team spirit | Act as a team; stick together |
Yamal’s words carry weight because he is a young player who is part of the squad himself. His public statement reinforces the position that the club has entered the season with.
The club has entered the season with the European competition among its priorities. Yamal’s words reinforce that position.
His refusal to promise certainty shows a mature approach. He knows the difference between belief and prediction.
This is a player who understands what is at stake. He wants Barcelona to aim high, and he wants the team to stay grounded.
His message is simple: Barcelona have the squad, and they should believe in themselves. Anything less would be cowardly.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.