Barcelona‘s manager Hansi Flick has responded to speculation suggesting he was compelled to start Lamine Yamal in the match against PSG.
Contrary to circulating reports, Barcelona’s head coach Hansi Flick firmly denied that he was pressured into including teenage sensation Lamine Yamal in the starting lineup against Paris Saint-Germain, despite claims that the young Spanish talent arrived late to training.
Match Recap and Aftermath
Barcelona endured a tough 2-1 defeat at home to PSG during their second Champions League group stage encounter. This loss highlighted the gap between Barcelona and Europe’s elite, prompting serious reflection within the club.
In the wake of the defeat, numerous rumors emerged, with the most alarming involving Yamal’s punctuality and his role in the squad.
Flick is known for his strict policy on punctuality, routinely benching players who show up late to training sessions. This disciplinary approach has previously impacted players like Jules Kounde, Raphinha, and most recently, Marcus Rashford.
Following the PSG fixture, rumors spread that Yamal had arrived late to training before the match and that Flick had planned to exclude him from the starting eleven, only for club officials to intervene and overrule the decision.
Flick Sets the Record Straight
Prior to Barcelona’s upcoming derby clash with Girona, Flick publicly refuted these claims, categorically labeling them as falsehoods.
“The story about Lamine being late before the PSG game is completely fabricated; it’s nonsense,” Flick declared, as reported by Fabrizio Romano. “Anyone spreading that story is not telling the truth.”
In the meantime, Yamal sustained an injury after the PSG match, causing him to miss Spain’s international fixtures. According to Pulse Sports, his rehabilitation is progressing well, and he is anticipated to return to action in the upcoming game against Girona.