Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has praised Lamine Yamal's mentality after the 19-year-old winger missed out on the Ballon d'Or. Yamal came third in the vote for the best player in the world, behind Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe. Despite the disappointment, Flick said Yamal has "reacted very well" and was "very focused in training". Flick made the comments ahead of Barcelona's La Liga match against Alaves.
Yamal had a successful season, winning La Liga with Barcelona and lifting the World Cup with Spain. However, he finished third in the Ballon d'Or vote, behind Kane and Mbappe. Flick believes Yamal is at the level required to win the award, saying "He's at the level required to win this award". The coach expressed his pride in Yamal, saying "I'm very proud of Lamine".
Barcelona will look to correct course at home to Alaves following two high-profile defeats. The team suffered a 4-2 reverse at PSG in the Champions League and a 2-1 loss at home to Real Madrid in La Liga. Flick emphasized the importance of winning against Alaves, saying "The most important thing tomorrow is to win". He added that the team is playing well and believes in their strengths.
Flick highlighted the challenge posed by Alaves, saying they are a team that knows how to defend well. However, he expressed confidence in Barcelona's abilities, saying "we're Barca and we want to show our best version". The coach also praised Yamal's mentality, saying it's "very good for the team".
Barcelona still hold a two-point lead at the top of La Liga ahead of their meeting with Atletico Madrid. Flick acknowledged that the campaign is "a long road" and that it's at the end of the season that they can win trophies. He emphasized the need to deal with defeat and learn from it.
Flick admitted that he does not like losing, but insisted that the team must accept defeat and move forward. He added that they could have won, but must learn from their mistakes. The coach's focus is on the upcoming match against Alaves, where he hopes to see a positive performance from his team.
Barcelona's match against Alaves is scheduled for Saturday, and Flick is optimistic about the team's chances. He reported a good training session and a positive mood among the players. The coach believes that if they show their best version, they can overcome Alaves and maintain their lead in La Liga.
Key points
- Hansi Flick praises Lamine Yamal's mentality after he missed out on the Ballon d'Or.
- Barcelona looks to correct course at home to Alaves following two high-profile defeats.
- Flick emphasizes the importance of winning against Alaves to maintain Barcelona's lead in La Liga.
