Teenage star Lamine Yamal is carrying the burden of expectations as Hansi Flick’s Barcelona face the unenviable problem of dethroning a fearsome Real Madrid facet as Spanish champions this season. The German coach changed membership legend Xavi Hernandez on the helm and welcomed new arrival Dani Olmo final week, however final season’s La Liga winners Madrid signed celebrity French striker Kylian Mbappe earlier this summer time. The ahead joins Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and different star names to make sure Barcelona start the season as agency underdogs to Los Blancos.
The Catalan giants received nothing final season and surrendered their Spanish crown in a deeply disappointing marketing campaign, however 17-year-old Yamal’s emergence reveals there may be gentle on the finish of the tunnel.
Along with Olympic gold medal-winning centre-back Pau Cubarsi, financially-hampered Barcelona will depend on their younger stars to try to compete with the would possibly of Carlo Ancelotti’s Champions League winners.
Many imagine Barcelona want a left winger and a deep-lying midfielder to place themselves able to battle for silverware however the membership’s financial struggles make these goals unlikely after Olmo’s arrival.
Flick’s facet beat Madrid in pre-season throughout a tour of the United States however have been introduced crashing all the way down to earth on Monday by Monaco, who loved a 3-0 win within the conventional Joan Gamper Trophy curtain-raiser at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium of their remaining pleasant.
“We did not play with our regular velocity or regular mixtures, we misplaced a number of balls,” mentioned Flick after the chastening defeat.
“But in the long run, it’s pre-season. I do know the workforce can play a lot better than at present.
“We have 5 days extra now and can put together them effectively for the following match in opposition to Valencia (Barca’s La Liga opener).”
The German coach is hoping to remodel the membership’s urgent recreation however with pivotal striker Robert Lewandowski quickly turning 36, there are doubts over whether or not he can obtain it.
Flick is additional set again by accidents to midfielders Pedri, Gavi and Frenkie de Jong, in addition to centre-back Ronald Araujo, which imply he begins the season with depleted ranks.
Return residence
Barcelona are planning to return to their renovated Camp Nou stadium halfway by the season if constructing works keep on monitor which will likely be a great addition for demoralised followers.
Although a membership of Barcelona’s measurement is at all times aiming to compete for silverware, expectations appear decrease than normal in Catalonia.
Gone are the times the place stellar names like Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar gave Barcelona essentially the most fearsome attacking line in world soccer.
Instead it was teenager Yamal who followers cheered for in opposition to Monaco, with Barcelona supporters’ largest roar of the night time reserved for the second the winger jogged down the touchline to heat up.
Yamal, who made his Barca debut at 15, was an important determine in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph this season and has taken to elite soccer like a duck to water.
No problem has appeared too daunting up to now for Barcelona academy starlet Yamal, resulting in inevitable comparisons with Messi.
With Sergi Roberto departing after 14 years within the first-team squad, Marc-Andre ter Stegen takes the armband as Barcelona captain.
“I hope the followers are with us all 12 months as a result of many good issues are forward of us,” mentioned the goalkeeper after the Monaco defeat.
“Let’s hope (that) was an accident… it is a good warning, and let’s hope that in just a few days we’ll be higher.”
If Barcelona are to have the ability to compete with Madrid this season, that must be the case.
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