Bayern Coach Vincent Kompany Admits Barça’s Lamine Yamal is a Ph Phenom, but…
Vincent Kompany, the current Bayern Munich coach, has praised Lamine Yamal’s exceptional talent, saying it’s a rare occurrence for a club to find a potential replacement for a world-class player like Lionel Messi, let alone one as early as three years after Messi’s departure. Yamal, a 17-year-old prodigy, has been making waves in the football world, scoring five goals and providing six assists in 12 appearances this season, while also helping Spain win the European Championships.
During a press conference ahead of Bayern’s Champions League tie against Barça, Kompany acknowledged the remarkable story of Yamal, who made his professional debut at 15 and has since become an integral part of the team. "It’s exceptional for Barça as a club to have found this player so shortly after the departure of a player like Messi," Kompany said. "For my generation, Messi was one of the key figures of our era. To shortly after his departure already have potentially a player who can replace him is quite unique."
However, Kompany emphasized that the focus shouldn’t solely be on stopping Yamal, but rather on defeating the entire Barça team. "Full credit to La Masia for always trusting these players and giving them the chance. But the question for us is not about stopping [Yamal], but trying to win a game against Barcelona, which means stopping all the players, not one."
Lamine Yamal is not the only young talent making a name for himself at Barça. Pau Cubarsi, a 17-year-old centre-back, is also impressing with his pace and skill, earning praise from Kompany, who compared him to future defensive leaders in the world game. "He’s one of the future defensive leaders in world football for sure," he said.
Bayern Munich, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from their recent Champions League defeat at Aston Villa. With their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season, they’ll be seeking to continue their impressive form against a strong Barça side, now managed by ex-Bayern boss Hansi Flick.
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