Veteran insists Barcelona are more than just Lamine Yamal – ‘We don’t win or lose because of him’ | OneFootball

Barcelona’s upcoming match against Atletico Madrid will be an important outing for the Blaugrana, as both teams are level on points, though Atletico have a game in hand.

Barcelona head into this high-stakes encounter with added pressure to secure a victory, especially after their recent defeat against Leganes.

However, their task has been made more challenging by the absence of rising star Lamine Yamal, who picked up an injury in the last match.

Despite the setback, Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez has expressed complete faith in the team’s ability to perform without Yamal.

“There is plenty of squad to replace Lamine despite what he gives us. Whoever plays will give 100% and will contribute the same or more than him,” he began saying as quoted by SPORT.

No dependency on Yamal

Lamine Yamal will miss the Atletico Madrid clash. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Yamal’s contributions on the pitch, such as drawing defenders and creating space for teammates, have been instrumental for Barça.

Yet, the veteran defender dismissed the notion of over-relying on the youngster, emphasising that the team’s success doesn’t hinge on any one player.

“Lamine is a differential player, he generates a lot and attracts many opponents. But we don’t win or lose because Lamine is there. Look at the last game, he was there and we lost,” he explained.

Inigo is confident

Inigo Martinez trusts his team. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

Looking ahead to the match against Atletico Madrid, he acknowledged the importance of bouncing back after the Leganes defeat.

He noted that the brief break given to the players by manager Hansi Flick helped the squad regain focus and prepare for the challenge ahead.

“They are a great team, but I have no doubt that if we are good and we are at the level we should be, we will be a superior team and everything will go well,” he added.

How to beat Atletico?

Inigo Martinez knows how to beat Atletico Madrid. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Defensive discipline will be crucial, according to Inigo Martinez. He stressed the need for the backline to remain alert, given Atletico’s attacking talent capable of exploiting even the smallest errors.

Mistakes, he noted, could easily tip the balance in a match of this calibre. “We have to be attentive.

“They have players with a lot of quality who generate problems in any action and we hope that there are no mistakes. That can tip the balance to one side or the other.”

Hansi Flick’s defence

Hansi Flick will not be on the touchline. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Adding to Barcelona’s difficulties, manager Hansi Flick will be absent from the sidelines after being handed a controversial two-match suspension for a minor protest during the game against Betis.

While he questioned the fairness of the decision, he dismissed concerns that Flick’s absence would impact the team’s preparation or performance.

“We all saw the action. I don’t think that sanctioning two games is fair. There are other situations in which even the behaviour of a player is much more serious towards the referee and you don’t see that the referee is so harsh,” he said.