Lamine Yamal: Barcelona need luck and experience to win the Champions League — 'We're not here for a stroll'

Lamine Yamal believes Barcelona have everything required to challenge for Champions League glory this season — but admits a slice of fortune could prove decisive after near misses in each of the last two campaigns.

Speaking during the international break while on duty with Spain, the teenage forward made it clear that Europe's biggest prize is firmly on his mind. The European Cup is the one major trophy missing from Yamal's cabinet, and after Barcelona fell to Inter in the semi-finals and then Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals under Hansi Flick, he says his team may simply need the ball to bounce their way if they are to be crowned champions of Europe once more.

"Everything depends on fate. The Champions League isn't decided in a single match; you can play badly and lose the title," Yamal told ON Sport. "So you need luck, along with experience, and these things accumulate year after year. I hope luck is on our side this year."

"We're playing to win the championship; we're not here for a stroll. We want to win and bring the trophy back to Barcelona, and God willing, we'll achieve victory this year."

A leap in level, performance and quality

The 2024 Kopa Trophy winner also expressed confidence that this Barcelona side have taken a significant step forward, pointing to a perfect start to the campaign that has delivered eight straight victories.

"We're in a very good moment and we're eager to continue offering entertaining and exciting football," Yamal said. "I think there's been a leap in level, performance, and quality, both because of the new players who have adapted well and because of the growing synergy among the veterans."

Yamal will first turn his attention back to international matters, with the world champions facing Croatia in the Nations League on Tuesday before the focus returns to Barcelona's bid to bring the European Cup back to the Camp Nou.