Flick Admits Uncertainty Over Yamal’s Return Amid Complicated Injury Setback

‎Barcelona coach, Hansi Flick, said on Saturday that Lamine Yamal’s groin injury is not easy to recover from and cast doubt on a possible return date.

‎The Spanish champions had announced that Yamal would be out for two to three weeks, but Flick suggested the absence could be longer for the 18-year-old winger.

‎Yamal will miss World Cup qualifiers with Spain and is aiming to return before Barcelona face Real Madrid in a Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu on October 26th.

‎”This injury is not so easy, like a muscle (injury), we have this experience with (those), the coaches, the therapists.

‎”With this kind of injury, it’s not easy to say now, okay, he can play in two weeks, in three weeks, or four weeks, so he’s able to play in the Clasico — this is not possible.

‎”We have to wait… we have to manage his (work) load. He will train with our recovery team, so for the next weeks he is with them, we have to go step by step and have to see how his evolution is.”

‎Yamal suffered a groin injury while playing with Spain in September, missing four games before returning to action last week.

‎The teenager, who was recently voted the second-best player in the world at the Ballon d’Or gala, faced Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday but suffered a recurrence of his injury.

‎Flick said he had spoken to Yamal on Saturday, and the winger gave him positive news. The report notes the update came after the latest setback, with Flick hopeful about his recovery prospects.

‎”I spoke with him today and it’s much better than before, but it’s not good,” said the coach, ahead of Sunday’s LaLiga clash against Sevilla.

‎Flick criticised Spain coach Luis de la Fuente after Yamal played against Bulgaria and Turkey with pain-killing injections.

‎De la Fuente said Friday he expected Flick to have more “empathy” having been a national team coach himself, but the German stood by his words.

‎”I don’t regret this, I want to protect my players,” added Flick.

‎”It’s done now, for me it’s over, we have to look forward… the important thing is that we manage this together, the clubs and the federation.”