FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick admitted that his team needs Lamine Yamal after the teenager … [+] played a pivotal role in a much-needed 5-1 win over Mallorca on Tuesday.
AFP via Getty Images
FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick admitted that his team needs Lamine Yamal after the teenager played a pivotal role in a much-needed 5-1 win over Mallorca on Tuesday.
Lamine has only just recovered from a muscle overload, with Barca losing three out of the four games he hasn’t started in the 2024/2025 league season.
The last of those defeats came on Saturday at home to Las Palmas, meaning the Catalans have squandered a six-point lead which could be reduced to one if bitter rival Real Madrid wins against Athletic Club on Wednesday.
By thrashing the hosts at Son Moix midweek, though, Barca retook a four-point advantage at the La Liga summit.
Though he has been reluctant to entertain talk of a Lionel Messi-like dependence his team has on Lamine, Flick admitted post match that it “needs” its prodigy, who provided a genius assist for Raphinha deep in the second half with the outside of his blessed left foot.
“He is very important, he can generate many things for the team, we know his quality and we need him,” Flick said.
“But not only he has played well. I always talk about the centre-backs, it’s not always easy with our style of play. Pedri in midfield, Rapha [Raphinha]I’m also very happy for Ferran [Torres]who scored. Gavi was very good today when he came on, Eric [Garcia] came back and we have more options for changes,” the German manager added.
Flick said that it was “important” for Ferran to score while Lewandowski “needed a rest”.
“When we needed him he could have been there, but today it was not necessary to play with him on the pitch. My plan yesterday was not for him to be a substitute, but today I had the feeling that he should rest. I also thought about resting Raphinha, but he’s in very good condition, you’ve seen that.
Scoring a brace, Raphinha was again the match’s MVP while donning the captain armband. And though he admitted he’s in the “best moment” of his career, he stressed he wants to do even more in a Barca shirt.
