Lamine Yamal Addresses Injury Rumors After Stellar Performance Against Club Brugge

Lamine Yamal has responded to the numerous “falsehoods” circulating about his groin injury after playing a pivotal role in Barcelona’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Club Brugge in the Champions League.

The 18-year-old forward had previously missed seven matches due to a pubalgia issue, with speculation about potential surgery. However, he has bounced back impressively, participating in Barcelona’s last five fixtures.

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick noted that Yamal is still managing his injury, yet the young talent showcased no signs of concern during the match against Brugge, netting an exceptional solo goal and providing an assist.

“I’m feeling good,” Yamal told reporters post-match. “I try to avoid reading the rumors. A lot has been said about my injury and claims that I was unhappy, but they are all untrue. My focus has been solely on working hard to return to this level, where I feel my best and enjoy the game the most.”

The match at the Jan Breydel Stadium saw Barcelona come from behind three times, with goals from Ferran Torres, Yamal, and a late own goal by Christos Tzolis contributing to the draw. Yamal’s equalizer was particularly noteworthy; he collected the ball outside the box, maneuvered past a defender, executed a one-two with Fermín López, and finished skillfully.

Additionally, Yamal assisted Barcelona’s third goal by making a clever cross that was inadvertently flicked into the net by Tzolis.

Flick expressed his satisfaction with Yamal’s return to form but acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his condition: “I am pleased Lamine has returned to this level, but we must be mindful of the future; we do not know what will happen next. What matters is that he manages his current situation effectively, as it is not an easy task. He needs to remain focused on training and treatment. If he handles it well, we hope for improvement, but predicting when is challenging.”

Yamal’s goal drew comparisons to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, but the young forward was quick to dismiss the notion of comparison: “I can’t compare myself to Messi. He has scored countless goals like that. I need to carve my own path and aspire to score many more goals in a similar fashion. I aim to perform my best; the play developed rapidly, and Fermín provided a lovely flick for me to control and finish.”

For the second consecutive week, Yamal faced a hostile reception from opposing fans, having been booed by Real Madrid supporters previously. He remarked, “I don’t think it’s coincidental that they target me and not others. If they’re whistling at me, it’s likely because I’m doing my job well on the field. I’m not concerned about it.”

Barcelona’s draw leaves them sitting 11th in the Champions League standings with seven points from four matches, while they currently occupy second place in LaLiga, trailing Real Madrid by five points ahead of their upcoming match against Celta Vigo.