FC Barcelona continued their winning start to the new La Liga campaign with a 2-0 victory over Athletic Club at the Spotify Camp Nou, with Raphinha and Fermin Lopez on the scoresheet. Lamine Yamal created several attacking moves and tested Athletic Club goalkeeper Unai Simon on a number of occasions, but was unable to score.
Yamal’s lack of a goal brought criticism despite Barcelona’s victory. However, the young winger also received support from an unexpected source after the match.
As SPORT has reported, Athletic Club manager Edin Terzic addressed Yamal in his post-match press conference. Terzic stressed that footballers are people first and noted that Yamal is a very young player who has experienced significant moments in recent weeks.
The German coach also pointed to the demands placed on Yamal following three weeks of rest, saying expectations that he should be ready to score five goals every week needed greater perspective. Terzic’s remarks focused on the player’s age and the intensity of the expectations surrounding him.
Barcelona’s win came through goals from Raphinha and Fermin Lopez. Although Yamal did not get on the scoresheet, his creation of attacking moves and repeated efforts against Simon showed the difference between failing to score and making no attacking impact.
Terzic’s intervention offered a reminder of the scrutiny faced by young players. His comments called for more care in judging performances, particularly when considering the circumstances around a player as young as Yamal.
