🚨🎙️| Nemanja Vidić: “Lamine caused Nuno Mendes’ injury. That’s the kind of player he is — special and incredible. In my opinion, he’s a mini MESSI, that’s what I call him.
Lamine never runs in a straight line, instead he’s always doing something extraordinary with the ball. Simply watching him play is a joy.” #fcblive ⭐
Arsene Wenger on Roberto Martínez claiming Lamine Yamal didn't cause Portugal any problems:
🗣“I disagree with that assessment. Football is not only about goals or assists; it is about the influence a player has on the game.
Portugal devoted a great deal of attention to Lamine Yamal. They consistently doubled up on him, and that alone tells you they recognised the threat he posed. When one player forces the opposition to alter their defensive structure, he is already having a significant impact.
Yamal was Spain's primary outlet in attack. He constantly received the ball in difficult situations, carried it forward with confidence, and forced Portugal to retreat. His dribbling, movement, and ability to attract defenders created space for his teammates and allowed Spain to progress up the pitch.
Nuno Mendes defended him well at times and deserves credit, but no defender can completely neutralise a player of Yamal's quality over 90 minutes. There were still moments when Yamal beat him, accelerated past him, and put Portugal under pressure.
To suggest he caused Portugal no problems overlooks the tactical reality of the match. His influence extended far beyond the statistics, and that is something every coach should recognise”
Thierry Henry on Nuno Mendes getting injured while trying to stop Lamine Yamal:
🗣️ “Before Nuno Mendes went down, you could already see how demanding his afternoon had been. Every time Lamine Yamal received the ball, Portugal had to send extra bodies across because they knew how dangerous he is in one-on-one situations.
On the rare occasions Mendes was left isolated, Yamal's acceleration and quick changes of direction forced him into recovery runs and desperate challenges. Defending a player with that level of explosiveness for 90 minutes is physically exhausting.
The injury summed up the battle. It wasn't just about one moment,it was the constant pressure Yamal was putting on that side of the pitch. When one player forces an entire defence to keep adjusting, you know he's having a major influence on the game, even without scoring.”