Lamine Yamal spoke at the Metropolitano alongside Hansi Flick on Monday ahead of Tuesday's UCL quarter-final second leg. The 18-year-old was confident, competitive and hungry.
On the comeback possibility: "I think a comeback is very possible. If we're eliminated, it will be fighting until the very end. We won't let a single minute go by without pushing, without running. We'll give everything for this badge."
On his own readiness: "I feel great. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's game. I'm motivated for it and I hope I can make a difference. Let's see if Cholo does me a favour and puts me one-on-one with some player — and I hope so."
His inspiration — Neymar and LeBron James: Yamal was asked about historic comebacks in sport and pointed to two of his idols. Neymar starred in Barcelona's famous 6-1 comeback against PSG in 2017, while LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers back from 3-1 down against the Golden State Warriors to win the 2016 NBA Finals. Yamal drew on both as proof that the impossible is possible on the biggest stages.
On the team spirit: After the first-leg defeat, Yamal had posted on Instagram: "This isn't over, culers. We'll give everything in the return. All together, always." That defiance has carried into Monday's press conference.
Cubarsi is suspended and will be replaced by Araujo. Raphinha, Bernal and Christensen remain out. But Yamal, with 15 La Liga goals and two assists in the first leg against Atletico in Saturday's derby, arrives at the Metropolitano in the form of his young life.