Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has played down concerns about overworking 17-year-old wonderkid Lamine Yamal.
Yamal has been a standout performer for Barca this season, featuring in all seven of the team’s matches across all competitions after an impressive summer with Spain, helping win Euro 2024.
The young winger has already tallied four goals and five assists this term, earning praise for his remarkable work on the field.
Speaking to the media, Flick said: “We have all the data from the players and at the moment it’s not like that, that he needs a rest.
“At the moment, everything is fine. He feels good. I don’t think that [against Getafe] he needs a rest. It’s also important playing at home to start well with a great team.
“What Lamine Yamal is doing this season is unbelievable.
🔵🔴 Lamine Yamal is already now the best player in the world or he’s too young?
Hansi Flick: “Lamine Yamal? I think quality has nothing to do with age”.
“At his age he is doing incredible things. He could become the best for sure”. pic.twitter.com/4KyUUXLUb5
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 24, 2024
“The quality has nothing to say about the age; at his age, he is really unbelievable, doing great things.
“Is he the best [in the world]? I think he could be the best player in the future, 100%.”
Yamal was instrumental in Barcelona’s 5-1 win over Villarreal last weekend.
He hit the post, won a penalty, and assisted on the fifth goal.
But he has also has been on the receiving end of several hard tackles as opposing players grow frustrated with his skill and pace.
However, Flick expressed confidence in the referees to manage the situation and protect the young star.
Lamine Yamal is Messi’s biggest fan 😂❤️
▫️ An idol? – “Messi”
▫️ Whose shirt do you want? – “Messi’s”
▫️ Who would you like to eat with? – “With Messi”(via @marca) pic.twitter.com/vWiUzaIjSa
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 24, 2024
He added: “The referees are doing well. They take care and they give yellow cards, it’s good.
“We take care about these players because they are unbelievable with the ball… It’s not easy to play against them. We have to look at these situations and see what the referee gives.”
Ter Stegen update
Yama and Barcelona’s dominant win over Villarreal was overshadowed by the injury to goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who is expected to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery for a ruptured tendon in his right knee.
With Ter Stegen sidelined, Flick confirmed that the club would evaluate their goalkeeping options, including the potential to sign a replacement from the free agent market.
He added: “For a second goalkeeper, it’s always difficult to be focused, but Inaki [Pena] is and he is ready to play.
“We have confidence in him, but we also have to see what we are doing. We will talk later because behind [Pena], we have really young players.”
