Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said teenage winger Lamine Yamal is working his way back to his best form ahead of the team’s La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano.
Yamal, 19, had a difficult performance in Barcelona’s season-opening loss at Elche but showed improvement in the second match against Athletic Bilbao, according to Flick. Although the Spanish winger did not score in either game, Flick noted that Yamal played the full 90 minutes against Bilbao and displayed moments of top-level play.
“I know everyone is worried about how is Lamine, how is he doing. And of course, look at his situation – he played a World Cup after a huge injury,” Flick told reporters on Sunday, referring to Yamal’s hamstring injury sustained in April.
Yamal returned to play at the World Cup following his injury, but had limited individual impact at the tournament despite Spain’s success. Flick emphasized that the winger is in the process of regaining the level of performance he has not consistently shown since his April injury.
“We saw him in some situations really on this top level. And now, you couldn’t see this in the training today, but I saw it, and it was excellent,” Flick said, noting that Yamal appeared in better spirits during training before the Rayo clash compared to after the Elche match.
Flick attributed some of Yamal’s slower start to the typical rhythm-building process after returning from a three-week holiday. He expressed satisfaction with the winger’s work rate and commitment to the team despite the inconsistent early performances.
Barcelona has won both of their opening fixtures, with Raphinha playing as a makeshift striker following the team’s inability to secure their top target, Julian Alvarez, from Atletico Madrid. Flick indicated he is content with his current squad if the club does not secure an additional striker.
Key facts
- Lamine Yamal struggled in Barcelona’s opening match at Elche but improved against Athletic Bilbao
- The 19-year-old winger is recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in April
- Yamal played the full 90 minutes against Athletic Bilbao
- Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Yamal showed moments of top-level play despite not scoring in either of the first two matches
- Yamal participated in the World Cup following his injury but had limited individual impact