Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi has showered praise on Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, describing the 17-year-old winger as an “incredible” talent ahead of their crucial Champions League semifinal second leg on Tuesday. The Italian side, who played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg at Barcelona’s Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, are preparing to face the LaLiga leaders at the San Siro, with Yamal’s dazzling performance still fresh in their minds.
Inzaghi, speaking to the press, acknowledged the unique challenge posed by Yamal, whose first-half heroics in the opening leg included a stunning individual goal that sparked Barcelona’s comeback from a 2-0 deficit. The Inter boss, who has guided his team to the Serie A title in recent years, admitted that Yamal’s speed of thought and technical ability left a lasting impression. “Seeing him live, he’s so dangerous,” Inzaghi said, per ESPN. “What impressed me was his speed of thought, he’s such a quick thinker. Even before receiving the ball, he always knows what move to make.” The coach went further, labeling Yamal a “once-in-50-years phenomenon,” a sentiment echoed by pundits and players alike after the teenager’s display, which saw him torment Inter’s defense, particularly left-back Federico Dimarco.
The first leg showcased Yamal’s ability to influence high-stakes matches, as he not only scored but also set up chances for teammates Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo, while nearly adding a second goal with a shot that struck the crossbar. His performance drew praise from figures like Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, who called him “incredible” on social media, and former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who claimed Yamal is already the best player in Europe’s top leagues. Even Inter’s players, exhausted after the match, were reportedly messaging about Yamal’s brilliance, with some suggesting he surpasses comparisons to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi.
Inzaghi, however, is focused on neutralizing the young star in the return leg. With the tie finely balanced, the Inter coach revealed his strategy to limit Yamal’s impact, emphasizing the need to prevent him from receiving the ball. “Defending against Lamine Yamal is very difficult,” Inzaghi told SempreInter. “We’ll have to try not to let him get the ball, but it’s very difficult. We’ll double up on him.” The tactical adjustments come after Inter struggled to contain Yamal in the first half of the opening leg, prompting Inzaghi to adapt at halftime by assigning multiple defenders to mark him, a move that partially subdued the winger in the second period.
Inter’s preparations are complicated by injury concerns, with captain Lautaro Martínez racing against time to recover from a thigh strain sustained in the first leg. Inzaghi remained cautious about the striker’s availability, stating, “We’ll see tomorrow,” but confirmed that Martínez would be part of the squad. Meanwhile, Brazilian wingback Carlos Augusto has staked a claim to start over Dimarco, with Italian media suggesting his defensive form could be key to keeping Yamal quiet.
Despite the challenge, Inzaghi remains optimistic about Inter’s chances at home, buoyed by the support of the San Siro crowd. “We believe we can beat Barcelona,” he said, highlighting the team’s resilience in recovering from a recent three-match losing streak to secure a 1-0 win over Hellas Verona in Serie A. “We’ll play with desire, strength, and aggression,” he added, underscoring the importance of reaching what he called an “incredible final.”
Barcelona, under Hansi Flick, will also be without key players, including star striker Robert Lewandowski, but Inzaghi dismissed suggestions that this weakens the Catalan side. “In their last five matches, they’ve won without Lewandowski,” he noted. “They have backups who are up to the task, like Yamal.” Flick, for his part, has hailed Yamal as a “genius,” expressing delight that such a rare talent plays for Barcelona.