Hansi Flick expressed that the players of Barcelona must give more than 100% to secure the LaLiga title after the season-ending injury to Lamine Yamal.
Barcelona, already missing the injured Raphinha until May, confirmed on Thursday that Yamal will be sidelined for their remaining six league matches due to a hamstring injury sustained during Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo.
Flick’s side holds a nine-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the standings, but with two challenging away matches upcoming against Getafe and Osasuna before the Clásico on May 10 at Spotify Camp Nou, they must continue to perform.
“We are one team, and if one player is missing, we need to come together and manage as a unit,” Flick stated at a press conference prior to Saturday’s match against Getafe.
“Everyone needs to give 100% or more for the team; this is crucial. We have six games left, and our objective is always to secure victory. Tomorrow won’t be easy. We possess the quality, but we need to deliver a fantastic performance.”
Yamal, 18, appeared to injure his hamstring while converting the penalty that secured Barça’s victory against Celta, although Flick indicated that the injury may have occurred during the foul that led to the penalty.
The German coach attributed the injury to Yamal’s ongoing development and expressed confidence that he will rebound in time for this summer’s World Cup with Spain.
“He felt something after the foul, but it wasn’t severe, and he chose to take the penalty. Subsequently, it may have worsened,” Flick remarked.
“He was aware of the sensation but had never experienced a muscle injury before. This is all part of his learning experience – understanding the signals his body communicates.
“It’s challenging for both us and him. However, I sense his strong focus. Though he’s out for us, he’ll be ready for the World Cup and will return even stronger.”
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Barcelona’s upcoming match against Getafe poses potential challenges in their title defense. They haven’t triumphed there since 2019, going five games without a win, while José Bordalás’s team has secured victories in seven of their last ten matches, rising to sixth place on the table.
“Getafe is a tough opponent,” Flick noted. “They have a solid defensive setup. Looking at their last ten matches, they rank second in the table.
“They have a clear philosophy, and their performances have been impressive.”
In addition to Yamal, Barça will also be missing Raphinha, Marc Bernal, and Andreas Christensen for the match against Getafe, while Eric García will be suspended for the game.
Flick remains hopeful that Raphinha and Bernal will return to training next week ahead of the match against Osasuna, allowing them the opportunity to be fit for the encounter with Madrid in the Clásico.
“Neither Raphinha nor Bernal have joined team training yet,” Flick stated. “They won’t be with us tomorrow, but next week looks much better as we assess day by day.”