FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick sent his star player Lamine Yamal a warning ahead of their team facing holders Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday.
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FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick sent his star player Lamine Yamal a warning ahead of their team facing holders Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Ballon d’Or runner up returned to the pitch on Sunday, after struggling with an injury in the pubic area picked up on international duty with Spain.
Lamine’s impact was immediate, and he immediately provided an assist for Robert Lewandowski’s header which proved to be the deciding goal in a 2-1 comeback win over Real Sociedad.
That victory but the defending La Liga kings back on top at Real Madrid’s expense, but Barca now faces its toughest test of the season against Luis Enrique’s champions of Europe.
Ahead of the clash, Flick sent a warning to the undoubtedly talented 18-year-old whizzkid as he continues his rapid climb to the top of elite football.
FC Barcelona coach Flick doesn’t like the focus being on Lamine
Asked about the teenager at a prematch press conference to preview the PSG UCL league phase tie, Flick said: “I think that this ‘super’, ‘super’… I don’t like it. He’s exceptional, but there are other exceptional players in the team.”
“He is 18 years old and also has to focus on making an effort. To move to the next level, one or two more steps, you have to make an effort, talent is not enough.
“It’s not just about playing with the ball, it’s also about defending. It’s what we need from all players, not just him. He’s a great player with the ball and that’s what makes the difference,” Flick added.
FC Barcelona coach Flick is not out for revenge
With his predecessor Xavi Hernandez in the dugout for a spring 2024 quarterfinal second leg loss which tossed Barca out of the competition, Flick insisted he is not out for revenge against his team’s French opposition.
“We are FC Barcelona and we like to be favourites in the Champions League, but we know that it is a very long road and that we have a spectacular opponent in front of us. I’m not thinking about the last match against PSG because we have to focus on this one. The past is different from the present moment. Everything has changed completely,” Flick stressed.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomsanderson/2025/09/30/flick-sends-fc-barcelona-ace-lamine-yamal-warning-before-psg-clash/
