Anthony Gordon: Intelligence is vital at Barcelona after being surprised by Lamine Yamal

Anthony Gordon says a player must make consistently good decisions to succeed at Barcelona, where he has been particularly impressed by the mentality of team-mate Lamine Yamal.

The England forward told El Pais he expected Yamal to be a talented player but had not anticipated his approach to the game.

“I expected Yamal to be a good and talented player, but I did not expect this mentality,” Gordon said. “Usually, a young player with all that talent relaxes when it comes to the defensive side, but he presses as much as I do and he never misses a session in the gym.”

Gordon also praised Rodri, whom he had previously faced as an opponent.

“What about Rodri? I already knew him because I had played against him. He is a beast,” Gordon said. “When he is on the pitch, if we lose the ball and the opposition launch an attack, he is always there.

“In attack, having him makes the game slower, which gives us time and space to move forward. It is the perfect combination.”

The 25-year-old also discussed the effect of social media on footballers and said players can become too concerned with public opinion.

“Players think too much about what other people think,” he said. “A player is praised excessively if he scores a goal or provides an assist, even if he has had a bad game. I would rather play well and not score; for me, that is real football.”

Gordon believes his pressing can sometimes overshadow the rest of his game. He said his former manager Eddie Howe signed him from Everton for his ability to run and press, but his wider qualities became clearer after he joined Newcastle.

“The problem with my style is that because I press the opposition, people focus too much on that,” Gordon said. “I think the quality of my game may surprise many people when they see me up close.

“That happened to me at Newcastle. Eddie Howe signed me from Everton to run and press. Then, when I arrived, it was almost as if they said: ‘Actually, you are a good player.’”

Gordon considers his football intelligence the most underrated part of his game and believes it explains why he can play for Barcelona.

“If you are not intelligent in this team, you are lost,” he said. “You have to make good decisions all the time, otherwise you look bad. Intelligence is making the right decision more often than not.

“Perhaps I should shoot more or be a little less generous, but that is not my nature. Making the right decision makes me feel satisfied.”

Gordon added that manager Hansi Flick had told him he wanted him at Barcelona because he suited his style and the qualities he valued. Gordon described Flick as calm, kind and clear in his communication, saying he preferred honesty even when it was difficult.

He also said Barcelona’s status as “the best team” was a major reason he wanted to join the project.

Gordon noted that discussions in Spain often focus on Kylian Mbappe and Yamal, while Harry Kane receives less attention.

“That happens everywhere,” he said. “In England, only the Premier League matters, while in Germany people talk about Kane because of Bayern Munich. Here, they talk about Yamal and Mbappe because they are the best. It is normal; you only see what is in front of you.”