Spain manager Luis de la Fuente demands media temper criticism of Lamine Yamal -'You want to kill him'
By Rhys Jones
Published 15/03/2025 at 11:51 GMT
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Luis de la Fuente has urged the media to tone down their criticism of Lamine Yamal as he believes they want to "kill him." The Spain manager said that the Barcelona starlet is still growing as a player and is wary of the impact that outside voices could have on the teenager. Yamal ended a month-long goal drought with a stunning score against Benfica in the UEFA Champions League.
De la Fuente: The media want to ‘kill’ Yamal if he doesn’t perform
Video credit: SNTV
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has called on the footballing media to not "criticise" and "kill" Barcelona's Lamine Yamal.
The Spanish starlet scored one goal and created a second in the club's UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg against Benfica.
The strike brought an end to the 17-year-old's month-long goal drought, but La Roja boss De la Fuente has urged outside voices to tone down their criticism as Yamal grows.
Speaking to the media, De la Fuente said: "What do I demand from Lamine? To keep enjoying football, to keep doing what he likes, to keep understanding football the way he does.
"What do I demand from the rest of you [media]? To understand that he is not a mature player yet. He still needs to grow.
"He can get really far, but it's you guys who criticise him and want to 'kill him.'"
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After his Champions League efforts to help Barca advance to the quarter-finals, Yamal's attention turns to the UEFA Nations League.
The European champions are looking to retain their Nations League title and face a two-leg tie against Netherlands to book their spot in the finals this summer.
De la Fuente is keen to manage the expectations of Yamal and has previously defended the young winger over critiques of his lack of goals.
But he equally recognised that the teenager needs to be equipped to deal with the negative voices.
"It's you, all of you now saying that he's a genius and an ace, and criticising him if he doesn't score two days in a row," he said regarding the media. "It's unbelievable, but he needs to be ready for the criticism."
Yamal is one of seven Barcelona players called up to the Spain squad following their dominant win over Benfica.
Barcelona set up a quarter-final clash with Borussia Dortmund with the first leg kicking off on April 9, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Stream the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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