Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has warned Lamine Yamal to get used to rough treatment on the pitch after the Barcelona winger was targeted during his country’s 1-0 UEFA Nations League win over Denmark on Saturday.
Yamal, 17, was the victim of several strong tackles from the Danes and was seen limping back to the team bus after the match.
“You have to apply the rigor that the rules allow,” De la Fuente told a press conference when asked for his opinion on Yamal’s challenges against Denmark.
“There is a referee there to mark the boundary. Against young players with his talent, (opponents) try to intimidate and seek contact.
“The referee must protect these talented players, but Lamine must get used to it. I would love it to be a bed of roses, Flower Power, but this sport is like that.
“Lamine showed an exceptional attitude and generated a lot for us from the right flank. He has a special talent. From there, I had a teammate who said to me: ‘What do you want, kisses (from opponents)?’ Teams use whatever weapons they can within the rules.
Denmark’s Victor Kristiansen was eventually booked for a late foul on Yamal and the left-back said he wanted to let the teenager know that he was not afraid to play against him.
“It’s not that I thought I was going to get a yellow card here, it was just to say, ‘Oh, I’m in this fight too.’ I’m not afraid of you,'” the Leicester City defender told Ekstra Bladet.
“When we have the opportunity to get into a fair 50-50 that can hurt a little, we have to go for it. He is very skilled and very, very good at such a young age. He’s going to be one of the best players for many years.
Sources close to the Spanish national team downplayed the significance of Yamal’s limp ahead of Tuesday’s Nations League match against Serbia, although a statement released by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Sunday said confirmed that he was back at Barcelona and would not play. this second match.
The RFEF statement said Yamal underwent an MRI which detected no “structural” injuries and that the discomfort was workload-related.
Barca will be grateful for the decision to prioritize the player’s health and avoid unnecessary risks ahead of a tough run of matches after the international break.
The Catalan club will face Sevilla next weekend then host Bayern Munich in the Champions League, before visiting Real Madrid for the first time. Classic of the season.
Yamal has started 13 of his club and country’s 14 games so far this season, with De la Fuente saying before the win over Denmark that the focus was on clubs resting players, not on l ‘national team.
Deserved volley from Martín Zubimendi in the second half The Red all three points against Denmark in Murcia, putting Spain top of their Nations League group after three games with seven points, one more than the Danes.
They return to action on Tuesday with another home match, this time against third-placed Serbia in Cordoba. Serbia beat Switzerland pointlessly on Saturday.