Luis de la Fuente pushes Lamine Yamal to master the off‑ball game
Spain's manager, Luis de la Fuente, recently highlighted that Lamine Yamal, at just nineteen, does not yet master the collective influence without the ball. This includes defensive work, pressing and involvement in phases without possession.
There are two types of players: those who are born with raw talent and those who learn to make it complete. Lamine Yamal clearly belongs to the first category, according to his coach's remarks.
The identified lack in off‑ball play
According to Luis de la Fuente, the dimension that Yamal still lacks when he joined the Roja is the ability to influence the collective without possessing the ball. In other words, defensive work, pressing and involvement in phases without the ball still need to be developed.
De la Fuente explained that the young winger must learn to exist on the pitch even when he is not in the offensive sequence. He specifically urged him to actively take part in the high press, to run to recover lost balls and not to simply wait for his moment to shine.
This evolution accompanies the progression of a player that Luis de la Fuente considers “born to play” at the highest level. The coach sees in Yamal a potential capable of rising among the best when he incorporates these demands.
Maturity and collective impact
The bright side of the phenomenon is that Yamal has assimilated the instructions with surprising speed. De la Fuente highlighted that the player has shown rare maturity in accepting these constraints, understanding that they strengthen the team and create more space after recovery.
The manager had already praised his self‑lessness and generosity, two qualities less spectacular than his dribbles but essential to the functioning of the Roja. According to him, these qualities are indispensable for maintaining the team's balance.
Yamal recently explained that collective mastery was decisive in Spain's world campaign, notably during the clash against France. He recalled that cohesion allowed the team to neutralize the opponent's attacks.
At nineteen, Lamine Yamal continues to add dimensions to his game: he now takes part in the press, defends and understands the collective needs, while retaining the offensive qualities that have placed him among Spain's top players.