Barcelona’s Assistant Coach Ridicules Lamine Yamal: “The Bernabéu Got to Him…”
Marcus Sorg’s explanation of what happened with the Barça ‘10’ leaves everyone surprised.
Real Madrid defeated FC Barcelona in the first Clásico of the 2025/26 season — a victory that has reshaped the balance of power in Spain. The project led by Xabi Alonso and his coaching staff gained a significant boost of credibility, proving they can rise to the occasion against elite rivals. The result also puts Los Blancos five points clear of Barça, consolidating their spot at the top of LaLiga.
One player who failed to make an impact at the Santiago Bernabéu was Lamine Yamal. The 18-year-old Barcelona star arrived in Madrid amid huge expectations, both for his impressive pre-injury form and his recent statements taking aim at Real Madrid and boasting about his abilities.
However, Yamal barely influenced the game. Alonso’s well-drilled defensive setup kept him quiet all night. Post-match comments — especially those from Dani Carvajal and Vinícius Jr. — only amplified his name in headlines after a largely invisible performance. Many sought an explanation for why Barça’s young prodigy was so ineffective in attack.
“He was affected by the Bernabéu’s pressure”
The most surprising answer came from Marcus Sorg, Barcelona’s assistant coach, who replaced the suspended Hansi Flick on the sidelines after the German’s offensive gesture in the previous league match against Girona.
Asked about Lamine Yamal’s underwhelming display, Sorg simply replied:
“Lamine was affected today by the pressure of the Bernabéu.”
The remark raised eyebrows. Critics quickly pointed out its weak logic — especially considering that last season, Barça had crushed Madrid 0–4 at the Bernabéu under Carlo Ancelotti, with Lamine himself scoring in that game. That performance was one of the key moments that cemented his rise to stardom across Europe.
The pre-Clásico controversy
Sorg’s words also contrast sharply with Lamine’s own attitude before the match. Days before the Clásico, the winger appeared on Ibai Llanos’ Kings League stream, confidently claiming that the Bernabéu “isn’t a difficult stadium” and reminding viewers that he had already scored there.
Those comments didn’t go unnoticed in Madrid’s dressing room. Players like Carvajal and Vinícius reportedly used them as extra motivation.
In the end, Sorg’s attempt to justify Yamal’s poor performance has done little to convince anyone. Whether it was the crowd pressure or simply a bad night, the Bernabéu clearly had the final word.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid have already turned the page and are preparing for their next test — a home match against Valencia, which could further strengthen the positive momentum gained from this Clásico victory.
