Legendary manager heaps praise on Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal while issuing tactical warning to Inter Milan
Fabio Capello has delivered a glowing endorsement of teenage Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, while also sending a stark warning to Inter Milan.
Both teams are gearing up for a blockbuster Champions League semi-final clash at the San Siro, one of the greatest grounds in Champions League history. And one of Italy’s most respected football minds has a thing or two to say about the clash.
Writing on his column for La Gazzetta dello Sport about Yamal’s upcoming debut at the San Siro, Capello dismissed any notion that the historic setting or the high stakes would faze the 17-year-old prodigy.
“It will be Lamine Yamal’s first time at San Siro, but don’t think for a second that he’ll be nervous,” said Capello, who has coached AC Milan, Real Madrid, Juventus and England. “The kid doesn’t seem like the type who’s prone to fear.”
“In fact, between the Euros, the Champions League, and matches against Real Madrid, he’s already shown he has the personality of a champion: the bigger the occasion, the higher his level.”
Yamal has lit up Europe this season with his maturity and flair, and become one of the key weapons in Hansi Flick’s Barcelona. He has contributed 15 goals and 24 assists in all competitions, helping the Catalans to the brink of a treble.
In the 3-3 draw in the first leg against Inter, he underlined an extraordinary performance with a stunning solo goal that sent out a clear message: he is no ordinary teenager.
Capello, who is rooting for the Italian team, fired a warning to Inter boss Simone Inzaghi that his side cannot afford to be passive against that kind of talent.
Late in the second half of the quarter-final against Bayern Munich at the San Siro, Inter sat back and tried to soak up the pressure from the Bavarians, and Harry Kane and Thomas Muller were unable to provide inspiration for the away side. Capello believes a similar strategy against Barcelona with a confident Yamal among their ranks could prove fatal.
“I hope that, if the game is close, Inter won’t sit back like they did in the last 20 minutes against Bayern,” said Capello. “Against Lamine that would be suicide.”
