Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has criticized the Spanish national team for their handling of Lamine Yamal during the recent international break, accusing them of failing to protect the player. The 18-year-old forward has been ruled out of Sunday’s LaLiga match against Valencia due to a groin injury he was managing while on duty with Spain.
Yamal featured in both of Spain’s World Cup qualifying victories against Bulgaria and Turkey, playing 79 and 73 minutes respectively. Flick revealed that the teenager played through pain and is now a doubt for Barcelona’s Champions League opener against Newcastle United on Thursday.
“Lamine went to the national team in pain, didn’t train, and had to take painkillers to play,” Flick stated in a news conference on Saturday. “They were three goals ahead in every match, and he still played. Between the matches, he didn’t train. This is not taking care of players. Spain has the best team in the world… I am really sad about this situation.”
Flick, a former coach of the German national team, also expressed frustration over a lack of communication with his Spanish counterpart, Luis de la Fuente. “I never really spoke with him,” he said. “Maybe my Spanish is not good, his English is not good, so this is a problem. The communication could be better. I was also a national team coach, so I know how hard the job is, but communication with the clubs was always good.”
Yamal had been in excellent form, contributing two goals and two assists in Barcelona’s first three league games before adding three more assists for Spain.
Barcelona’s injury concerns are compounded by the absence of midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who picked up an injury while with the Netherlands. Gavi and Alejandro Balde also remain unavailable. However, the club received a boost with the return of youngster Marc Bernal, who will be on the bench after recovering from a year-long ACL injury.
Sunday’s match against Valencia will be held at the 6,000-capacity Estadi Johan Cruyff as renovations continue at Spotify Camp Nou. Flick insisted the smaller venue would not be an excuse. “I spoke with the captains, and they say it will not affect us,” he said. “Valencia also has to play in this stadium. We know the situation… and these things don’t affect my team.”
The fixture will also mark Thiago Alcantara’s first game on the sidelines as part of Flick’s coaching staff. “I am really happy he’s back,” the manager said. “He has a lot of experience and can pass it on to the players. I can see how the young players listen to him. He could be a really good piece of the puzzle for our success.”
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