Hansi Flick defended Lamine Yamal after the teenager came under criticism for his attitude following Barcelona’s late win over Atlético Madrid, saying the 18-year-old had tried everything and still had the club’s support. Barcelona edged Atlético with a late goal from Robert Lewandowski on Saturday, then widened its lead at the top of La Liga to seven points after Real Madrid’s surprise defeat at Mallorca.
Yamal finished the match without a goal or assist and appeared more frustrated than happy after Barcelona sealed a result that mattered even more because of Madrid’s slip. Flick said he understood the emotion because the forward can get angry when he is substituted or when he has four or five defenders on him and still misses a shot, but added that frustration is part of the package with a player who has already made 172 appearances for Barcelona and Spain and produced 114 goal contributions.
“I already said on Saturday after the game that he tried everything. He had the ball, we switched wings... Lamine is 18 years old, and for me, he’s an incredible player,” Flick said, defending a player who had gone four matches without a goal or assist for Barcelona and Spain. The coach added that Yamal can be irritated when a chance goes begging, but said it is understandable because “it can be frustrating if he doesn’t score” and that he supports him.
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The criticism centered less on the scoreline than on how Yamal carried himself after it, a small sign of how quickly expectations have grown around him. Barcelona will face Atlético again in the Champions League quarterfinals, and Flick’s message before that rematch was simple: the club does not see a problem, only an 18-year-old who has already delivered far more than most players do in an entire career.
