Javier Clemente Backs De la Fuente, Says Lamine Yamal Furor Was Overblown

Overview

• Luis de la Fuente’s comments on the Barcelona winger’s situation were magnified, according to Clemente, who said no offense was intended.
• Clemente called for Barcelona, the federation and the coaches to handle injury and selection issues privately rather than in public.
• He stressed that off-field discipline will shape Lamine Yamal’s career longevity.
• He said accountability rests with the player, his entourage, his coach and his club.
• Context for the flare-up was Yamal’s recent groin problem that kept him out of Spain duty, and Clemente also labeled Vinicius Junior’s recent outburst as “ugly, very ugly.”