Yamal slams injury ‘lies’ after stunning solo goal in Champions League
The Barcelona star was in fine form on the European stage again against Club Brugge
Lamine Yamal has hit back at reports surrounding his groin injury after helping Barcelona fight back three times in a 3-3 draw against Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old had missed seven matches earlier in the season for both club and country due to pubalgia, with speculation suggesting he might need surgery.
However, Yamal has since started five consecutive games for Barca and showed no signs of discomfort in Belgium.
“I am good,” Yamal told reporters after the match. “I try not to read things. A lot has been said about my injury and that I was sad. It was all lies. I wanted to work hard to get back to this level, which is when I feel the best and have the most fun.”
Barcelona fell behind three times in an end-to-end contest at the Jan Breydel Stadium, equalising through Ferran Torres, Yamal, and a late own goal from Christos Tzolis.
Yamal’s goal stood out as the highlight of the night. The teenager picked up the ball outside the box, beat a defender, exchanged a quick one-two with Fermin Lopez, and calmly slotted home.
Later, his driven cross forced Tzolis to turn the ball into his own net to level the game at 3-3.
Yamal Plays Down Messi Comparisons
Following his goal, comparisons were once again made between Yamal and Lionel Messi, but the young winger was quick to dismiss them.
“I can’t compare myself with Messi,” he said. “He’s scored thousands of goals like that. I have to make my own way and hope to score many more goals like that. The move went really quick and Fermin left me the ball perfectly, I just controlled it and finished.”
For the second time in recent weeks, Yamal was met with a hostile atmosphere after being whistled by home fans, this time in Brugge, following a similar reaction at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that they whistle me and no one else,” he said. “If they’re whistling me, it’s because I’m doing my job well on the pitch. I’m not worried about that.”