Yamal says 'no greater motivation' than to win UCL
Lamine Yamal believes "there's no greater motivation than to win the Champions League" as Barcelona prepares for its Europe campaign.
Barca hosts Feyenoord on Thursday in its Champions League opener, as the Blaugrana bid to win the competition for the first time since 2014-2015.
Hansi Flick's side reached the quarter-finals in the Champions League last season before losing 3-2 on aggregate against rival Atletico Madrid.
Yamal scored six goals and provided four assists in 10 Champions League games in 2025-2026.
The 19 year-old won back-to-back LaLiga titles with Barca before lifting the World Cup with Spain over the summer, and now he wants to achieve Champions League glory.
"There's no greater motivation than to win the Champions League," Yamal said. "We all feel it. It's the most special competition. Rodri, [Anthony] Gordon... everyone is excited.
"On a team level, I want to keep winning titles, especially the Champions League.
"On a personal level, I want to improve every day. I'm very young, but by listening I can improve; that's my goal."
This will be the 21st time that Barca has played its opening game of a European Cup or Champions League campaign at home.
The only previous meetings between Barca and Feyenoord came in the last 16 of the 1974-1975 European Cup, with the Spanish side progressing 3-0 on aggregate (0-0 away, 3-0 at home).
Barca's aim this season will be to dethrone Paris Saint-Germain, which has won the last two editions of the Champions League, and Yamal has urged his team-mates to fight hard in their hunt for the trophy.
"At PSG and Bayern, everyone presses and they win titles," Yamal said. "If you don't run, any team will beat you. If we want to win, we have to run; if you don't, you'll lose."
Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana
FC Barcelona
