Hansi Flick: Lamine Yamal keeps playing almost every minute

Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s coach, explained ahead of Betis-Barça how he handles Lamine Yamal’s near-ever-present role, admitting the winger is “playing almost everything.” The German said he knows minutes must be managed, but he wants Yamal’s momentum to continue: “for him the most important thing is that he enjoys playing football… now he’s doing it and I don’t want to interrupt that situation,” according to Mundo Deportivo.

Flick also addressed Alejandro Balde’s situation. He acknowledged it “isn’t easy for him at the moment,” but pointed to the key point: Balde “is training,” and he “trains very well.” Flick said his position has two top options in the squad, Xavi Espart and João Cancelo, and insisted that Balde must “prove he’s ready if they need him,” which he believes he is doing professionally.