Yamal says Champions League is Barcelona’s main target this season

Hansi Flick confirmed on Saturday that Yamal was voted in by his team-mates alongside Eric Garcia and Frenkie de Jong. The German coach then chose Raphinha and Pedri to complete the captaincy group.

It is an unusual honour for a player of Yamal’s age.

Barcelona’s youngest-ever captain was Bojan Krkic, who reached the role in 2010 at 20 years and 56 days old. Yamal will now take his place as fifth in the pecking order.

“At 19, this is something to be proud of,” Yamal said. “I am very grateful to my team-mates. It is a role with responsibility, even though I am only 19, but I am very happy.”

The Champions League is the competition he wants most.

“There is no greater motivation than the Champions League, a competition I still have to win. We will give everything to win it. Many good players have arrived, like Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Rodri.”

Barcelona have gone out of the Champions League in the past two seasons. They failed to keep a clean sheet in any of the four matches that led to those exits.

That has led to questions over whether Flick needs to temper his attacking style in Europe.

Flick said Barcelona will adapt when the situation calls for it, but he does not intend to abandon the approach that has brought success over the last two years.

“We always adapt our game to the opponent. Maybe not too much, but when it is necessary,” Flick said. “We have our own style of play; it has been very successful in the last two seasons.”

He said his players will need to be fit and in top form to handle Atletico Madrid, who knocked Barcelona out 3-2 on aggregate in last season’s quarter-finals.

Barcelona are trying to end an 11-year wait for the Champions League. They came close in 2025, losing to Inter Milan in the semi-finals after extra time.