Marcos Llorente on Yamal: It's Better to Pass Him the Ball and Stay in Defense

Spanish international Marcos Llorente has stated that a strong connection is gradually forming between him and Lamine Yamal. Spain is set to face Austria in the World Cup Round of 16 on Thursday evening. The two players are rivals in La Liga, representing Atlético Madrid and Barcelona respectively, and their partnership on the national team has been closely scrutinized, with many in Spain believing it has yet to reach its full potential.

However, Llorente emphasized that they employ different playing styles at their clubs and insisted that the 18-year-old Yamal is capable of performing well without his constant assistance.

“Atlético Madrid is nothing like the national team,” Marcos Llorente was quoted as saying by BTA.

“These are two different playing styles. At Atlético, I don't have Lamine in front of me, and with the national team, I don't have Giuliano Simeone. It's different, but little by little, Lamine and I are getting to know each other. He doesn't need much help. In fact, it's almost better to just pass him the ball and stay back, because if we get too close, we bring another defender with us. We're looking for what's best for him, because he's the player who makes the difference.”

Llorente, who played 49 matches for Atlético last season, has started two of Spain's three World Cup games so far and feels ready to help his country advance further in the tournament. He also commented on the atmosphere within the team's camp in North America.

“I have no problem maintaining my routines. I do the same things as at home, but in a hotel. I wake up at 6:30 AM and go out to check on the team. Food isn't an issue because the federation has taken care of it. We need to take it step by step. It would be a mistake to think about who might advance next. The match against Austria is what matters, and then we'll think about the next challenge.”