Flick will 'protect' Barca teen star Yamal

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said connected Saturday (November 1, 2025) helium volition "protect" teenage prima Lamine Yamal aft caller criticism.

The 18-year-old winger struggled successful the Clasico past play arsenic champions Barca fell to a decision that near them 5 points down La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

Yamal was besides successful the spotlight for comments earlier the crippled insinuating Madrid "steal [and] complain" which riled Los Blancos fans and a large portion of the Spanish media.

"We talk with him... we are precise honorable together, helium with maine and I with him and this is the champion way," Flick told a quality league up of Barca's lucifer against Elche connected Sunday successful La Liga.

"I volition ever support him and enactment him. He's a fantastic player, fantastic guy, he's precise young and we volition spell connected this way."

Yamal has been struggling with a groin wounded for a fewer weeks and though helium started the Clasico, helium enactment successful a subdued show and inactive seems affected by the issue.

"Lamine is good. I conscionable spoke with him and he's doing good," continued Flick.

"Of people helium has immoderate days wherever helium feels immoderate symptom but present helium truly works hard, helium amended a batch astir these things. He's connected a bully improvement truthful this is what we tin say."

The German manager said Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo were disposable again aft injury, portion Barca are inactive without Pedri Gonzalez, Gavi and Joan Garcia among others.

Flick explained seasoned striker Lewandowski and playmaker Olmo's returns had helped rise the prime successful training.

"What I tin spot present with Dani and besides with Lewy back, the past 2 grooming (sessions) were precise good," added Flick.

"It's not conscionable that they summation the level and quality, but that the others are expanding their level, besides the young players. It's bully to spot and hopefully we tin amusement it tomorrow."

The Catlans big Elche astatine the Olympic Stadium, with the promoted broadside coached by Eder Sarabia, who was a erstwhile Barca adjunct manager nether Quique Setien.

Elche are successful mid-table aft a beardown commencement to the season, having suffered lone 2 defeats, and Flick said they play "fantastic football".