Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has moved to downplay concerns over Lamine Yamal’s visible frustration after the teenage sensation was substituted during the team’s clinical victory against Levante.
The Blaugrana reclaimed their spot at the summit of the La Liga table on Sunday, February 22, securing a dominant 3-0 win. However, the headlines were briefly stolen by Yamal’s disappointed reaction when he was replaced by Roony Bardghji in the 88th minute.
With the Catalan giants comfortably ahead and the three points all but secured, Flick opted to give his young star a few minutes of rest. Yamal, however, appeared visibly upset, shaking his head as he made his way to the bench.
Addressing the media after the final whistle, Hansi Flick refused to see the incident as a problem. Instead, the German tactician praised the young Spaniard’s hunger and competitive drive.
Flick emphasized that while Yamal always wants to be in the thick of the action, at just 18 years old, his physical workload must be carefully managed to ensure he remains at his peak.
As quoted by The National, the Barcelona boss explained: “I love that he is disappointed. It shows his mentality.
“He always wants to score goals, pass the ball to teammates, and support the team in every way possible. That is good. That’s exactly what we hope our players will give us.
“He is 18 years old. We have to take care of him. He gets a lot of playing time and today the game stayed under control. It was the right time to let him rest.”
The night was otherwise perfect for Barcelona, with goals from Marc Bernal, Frenkie de Jong, and Fermin Lopez ensuring they leapfrogged their rivals in the standings.
The title race took another dramatic turn as Real Madrid stumbled to a 2-1 defeat against Osasuna, leaving them trailing Barcelona by a single point at the top of the table.