Hansi Flick Backs Lamine Yamal To Bounce Back Stronger After Ballon d’Or Setback

‎Barcelona coach, Hansi Flick, believes Lamine Yamal will use his Ballon d’Or disappointment as motivation to reach even greater heights.

‎The 18-year-old finished runner-up to PSG’s Ousmane Dembele at Monday’s ceremony in Paris.

‎However, he still claimed the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the world’s best young player.

‎”I spoke with him yesterday, and I think he sees it (in the) right (way), so it’s for him also motivation for the next years,” Flick told a news conference.

‎”Dembele, he deserved it also, it’s a vote and a lot of things can happen and I think he accepted this in a good way, and he’s motivated to show it this season.

‎”Maybe next season he also will be an option for the Ballon d’Or, but I really appreciate that a lot of players from our team are in this situation, and it’s great for our team. It shows a lot how your last season was, and this is also our goal for this season.”

‎Yamal starred as Barcelona won a domestic treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.

‎The winger is poised to miss Thursday’s clash with Real Oviedo due to a groin problem as the champions attempt to stay in touch with La Liga leaders Real Madrid, who defeated Levante on Tuesday to extend their advantage to five points over Barca.

‎Last season, the Catalans struggled in matches without the teenager, but they defeated Valencia and Getafe without him in their previous two fixtures.

‎”I’m really happy, I never think about which player we are missing, I only focus on the team we have,” said Flick.

‎”Which players are the options for being in the starting XI… I’m happy with my team. It makes no difference, every starting XI can win matches. It’s not a big problem.”

‎Flick Update on Gavi’s Injury

‎Midfielder Gavi is out for the next four to five months after undergoing knee surgery on Tuesday.

‎The 21-year-old missed nearly a year after a knee ligament tear in November 2023.

‎”We have to take care of him, we have to go step by step, because he is 21 years old and he has a huge career in the next 10 to 15 years,” said Flick.

‎”He’s a player with a big, big heart, he’s a player with a lot of emotion, he’s a player who lives… I wouldn’t say dies, for this club, but he’s like this and I’m really happy to have him on my team.

‎”Of course, we are waiting until he’s back, it’s not easy for this team, because he has a huge quality for us, but every one of us will support him, will help him to reach his level again, and this is our goal now for him.”