Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal says Real Madrid’s players should be asked why the Spanish giants have gone two seasons without winning a trophy.
Yamal was asked about Real Madrid’s recent difficulties and their uneven start to the new campaign. The 16-year-old said he did not know the reason for the club’s problems, but suggested the answer should come from those inside the Madrid dressing room.
“Real Madrid? Ask them themselves why they are not winning,” Yamal said.
Real Madrid have now suffered their first defeat of the season after losing to Sevilla-based side Real Betis last weekend. The result added to the scrutiny surrounding a team that has failed to lift silverware in each of the past two seasons.
Yamal did not attempt to offer a detailed explanation for Real Madrid’s lack of success. Instead, the Barcelona forward directed the question back towards the club’s own players, making clear that he could not account for their results.
The Madrid side will have an opportunity to respond in their next Spanish championship fixture, when they host Rayo Vallecano. That match will give Real Madrid the chance to recover from the defeat by Real Betis and improve what has been described as an unconvincing beginning to the new campaign.
The comments from Yamal add an extra edge to the latest discussion around the fortunes of Barcelona’s main domestic rivals. Real Madrid’s difficulties have been highlighted by the absence of a trophy for two consecutive seasons, while their first defeat of the current campaign has further focused attention on their form.
For Yamal, however, the reasons behind that run are not clear. His position was simple: the players representing Real Madrid are the people best placed to explain why the club has not been winning.
The upcoming home game against Rayo Vallecano will therefore be Real Madrid’s next chance to provide an answer on the pitch. For now, their defeat by Real Betis remains their first loss of the season, while Yamal’s comments have put the responsibility for explaining the club’s struggles firmly back on the Madrid players.