Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has urged Lamine Yamal to put aside his recent challenge against Marc Cucurella during Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat to Chelsea and instead concentrate on his upcoming home matches against Alavés and Atlético Madrid.
The 18-year-old Yamal struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez noting that Cucurella managed to effectively subdue his international teammate.
Flick substituted Yamal in the 80th minute, and while the young forward seemed disappointed, the Barça coach played down those feelings, encouraging him to bounce back in the following weeks.
“Lamine’s mood is good,” Flick commented in a press conference ahead of Saturday’s LaLiga match against Alavés at Spotify Camp Nou. “Many players are not pleased when substituted; I’ve been there myself and didn’t always show the best reaction, but it’s all part of the emotional side of the game.”
“Cucurella is one of the best left-backs globally. He’s a clever and intelligent defender, making it tough to play against him. The next step for Lamine is to demonstrate that this match is behind him. Alavés is now the priority, and he must deliver his best performance.”
Yamal, who has recorded six goals and seven assists in 13 appearances this season, wasn’t the only Barcelona player to falter during the Chelsea match. The team’s defensive efforts were also criticized, as Chelsea netted three goals, with three more disallowed.
Flick admitted that the loss was difficult for him and the players but maintained a positive outlook. He addressed critics of his tactics, stating they lack understanding of the team’s approach.
“Naturally, everyone is down after the loss to Chelsea,” Flick acknowledged. “We were very disappointed because we felt we could win, but that’s behind us now. When you concede three goals, it’s easy for others to claim it wasn’t a good performance. But for all the outside experts, they have no grasp of how we aim to play and what is necessary for our pressing strategies.”
“It’s not solely about the four defenders; it involves the midfielders and strikers contributing to pressing. I rely on every player to engage in this effort rather than placing all the blame on defenders, which isn’t fair.”
“I choose to remain positive. We’ve executed many aspects well, but we need to improve how we start our pressing dynamics.”
Flick believes Barcelona will present a different face moving forward, especially with Pedri returning from injury against Alavés and Raphinha likely to start for the first time since September after a brief period off the bench.
However, Fermín López will be sidelined for two weeks due to a calf injury, and Ronald Araújo is unavailable due to a stomach bug.
“I’m impressed by what I’m seeing in training; we are focused and possess significant quality. Players are returning,” Flick said. “Pedri’s return changes the situation and boosts our quality, as does Rapha, who has come back after being ill. I’ve really missed Rapha.”
“I view him as a pivotal player for us, especially considering our philosophy and style of play. He’s a tremendous asset both in defensive press and transitions, and it’s no coincidence he scored so many goals last season. He’s eager to demonstrate his capabilities once again after a stellar past year.”
A win against Alavés would allow Barça to temporarily ascend to the top of LaLiga, ahead of leaders Real Madrid, who face Girona on Sunday.
Flick’s team will then prepare for a crucial league clash at home against Atlético Madrid, who are on a six-match winning streak in all competitions after securing a 2-1 victory against Inter Milan earlier this week.