Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal has attracted a lot of attention in Spain with his actions ahead of the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid.
His appearance at the press conference and change in social media have been interpreted as a message of hope for the Catalan team.
It all started last Sunday when Yamal changed his Instagram profile picture. He posted a photo of basketball star LeBron James hugging the 2016 NBA championship trophy. The move was not accidental, but carries a deeper symbolism.
“LeBron is one of the people who can inspire me for the game and that’s why I chose him for my profile picture,” Yamal initially said.
“I think about how he made the turn and I hope I can do the same,” the Barcelona star concluded.
Comparison with a historical turning point
Specifically, LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers were in a near-impossible situation in that year’s Finals against the mighty Golden State Warriors, who had won a record 73 games that season.
However, they managed to overcome a 1-3 series deficit and win the title, something no one had done before in NBA Finals history.
On the other hand, Barcelona are in a similar situation, looking to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat in the first leg at Camp Nou. Therefore, the Catalans will face a tough task in the return leg at the Metropolitano.
That the risks are high and that every detail is being taken into account is confirmed by the move of coach Hansi Flick, who has already filed a complaint with UEFA regarding the height of the grass on Atletico’s field.
