Hansi Flick emphasized his unwavering support for Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, stating that the player’s anger after the Atlético Madrid match was understandable and that he will always stand by and protect the 18-year-old.
Yamal refused to speak with Flick after being substituted in the final minutes against Atlético, and he also refrained from celebrating Robert Lewandowski’s goal. According to Spanish newspapers, the player was angry with goalkeeping coach De la Fuente due to his excessive instructions, as well as the racist chants he endured from the Rojiblancos fans.
In the pre-match press conference before the Champions League game against Atlético Madrid, Flick was again asked about Yamal and what had happened. He responded, “He did everything on the wing on Saturday and was disappointed. What we have to understand is that Lamine is still only 18 years old, and what he’s doing is truly exceptional.”
He added, “He sometimes gets angry when I substitute him, or maybe when he dribbles past four or five players and then shoots and misses [like against Atlético]. Sometimes he also gets frustrated because he didn’t score that goal.”
He continued, “He left the pitch frustrated because he’s an emotional player, and that’s a good thing. Perhaps sometimes his frustration is directed at himself.”
Flick went on to emphasize his unwavering support for the player of Moroccan descent: “I know everyone looks up to him because he’s a fantastic player, but he’s only 18, and we all make mistakes. I told him: ‘You can try new things, no problem, I’ll always protect you.'”
He concluded, “He’s emotional, and that’s a good thing. I’ll always support him. He’s a great player, he’s on the right track, and we’re helping him develop in the right environment. It’s not good to make such a fuss about everything he does.”
