Rabat – Lamine Yamal has embraced Barcelona’s growing determination to win the UEFA Champions League, arguing that being “obsessed” with ending the club’s long wait for another European title can be a positive force.
Speaking to Movistar+ in an interview with Jorge Valdano, the 19-year-old said he enjoys seeing his teammates enter the dressing room genuinely believing they can win Europe’s biggest club competition.
“I like it when players come into the dressing room believing we can win the Champions League,” Yamal said.
But the Spain international distinguished confidence from assuming that success is guaranteed.
“I think the problem is when someone says that winning it is inevitable,” he added. “Things don’t always go the way we want, but I think being obsessed with winning the Champions League is a good thing.”
Yamal said Barcelona’s history means the club should not be satisfied simply competing for domestic trophies.
“Barcelona have had periods when they were the best team in history and won the Champions League,” he said. “We have a team capable of doing that again, and it would be cowardly just to say: ‘We’ll compete for LaLiga.’”
Barcelona chase first European title since 2015
Barcelona have not lifted the Champions League since 2015, when Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar helped the Catalan club defeat Juventus 3-1 in the Berlin final and secure their fifth European Cup.
The club have moved closer in recent seasons without completing the job. Hansi Flick guided Barcelona to the semi-finals in 2024-25 before their campaign ended in the quarter-finals last season.
Yamal has already described the Champions League as the biggest trophy still missing from his collection after winning major honors with both Barcelona and Spain.
Barcelona made an emphatic start to the current European campaign, defeating Feyenoord 5-1 at Camp Nou on Wednesday. Yamal scored directly from a free-kick and later assisted Gabriel Jesus, while Raphinha struck twice.
The winger’s comments also echo Flick’s own message before the competition began. The German coach said Barcelona have the quality to win the Champions League but must prove themselves throughout what he described as a long journey.
