That's why we are hungry — Yamal gives reason for poor Rayo Vallecano performance

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal disagreed with Hansi Flick’s assessment of their performance against Rayo Vallecano, providing his own perspective on why they have struggled. 

Yamal inherited the No. 10 jersey at Barcelona this season and has started brilliantly, with two goals and two assists. However, they had a stutter early on in the title race when they were held to a draw by a spirited Rayo Vallecano side. 

After the match, Flick suggested that the result was a result of players having developed egos, but Lamine Yamal believes it was because they lacked intensity. 

The teenager spoke after the draw against Rayo Vallecano at Vallecas. He was asked about Flick's statement, and he had the following to say. 

“I think it has more to do with the fact that we didn’t start the season with the intensity we had at the end of the previous one than with the egos in the dressing room,” Yamal said, per Football Espana. 

“After a draw, you come out of it hot; in the end, you have to win. We took seven points out of nine on very difficult pitches, something people don’t mention.

“He is right that we made a lot of mistakes, but it can happen. We have to get back to our level as soon as possible. We’re hungry for more because we haven’t won four Champions Leagues or four Liga titles in a row; we’re very young. La Liga is very long, so we have to be consistent.”