Hansi Flick defends ’emotional’ Yamal after anger during Atletico clash

n n

By Enitan Abdultawab

n

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has defended teenage sensation Lamine Yamal following a display of anger after Saturday’s La Liga clash against Atletico Madrid, when the 18-year-old reacted angrily after the goalkeeper coach shouted at him for taking a shot instead of passing.

n

Speaking ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash against Diego Simeone’s side at the Nou Camp, Flick emphasised the need to nurture Yamal’s talent while understanding his natural passion on the pitch.

n

“What we have to remember is that Lamine is 18 years old. He’s an incredible player. Sometimes you see what he does, and it’s amazing, especially in one-on-one situations. But he’s only 18. Sometimes he gets upset when I sub him out, maybe because he’s trying to take on four or five defenders and shoot.

n

“He might be frustrated. He’s emotional, and that’s okay. We support him. We help him grow. We have to look out for him. I know everyone is watching him because he’s fantastic. But he’s only 18. We all make mistakes. We’ll always protect him. He’ll be the best in the future,” Flick added.

n

He also stressed that Champions League nights bring an entirely different challenge compared to domestic fixtures, especially as it would be another meeting between the two Spanish sides in just four days.

n

“It’s different. Not entirely, but different. The Champions League is a different competition. That’s how I see it. We’re playing against a tough opponent with fantastic players. We want to advance to the next round,” he added.

n

On facing Simeone’s side, Flick highlighted Atletico’s structure, mental toughness and physicality.

n

“Atletico is a tough team. They have the right attitude, fast players, and are strong on the field. On Saturday, they rested several players and still played well. It’s not easy to score two goals against Atletico. That’s all I can say. It’s always tough.

n

“The match will be very exciting. We’ll try to get a good result, but we know we have to play there. We want to reach our goal. We have to focus on our performance and what we do. We have to focus on our own game. That’s what I want to see,” Flick added.

n n