MADRID, 24 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said on Tuesday that he is “100 percent sure” that Lamine Yamal can be “the best player in the world” in the future because he does “incredible” things and that a player’s quality “has nothing to do with age.”
“He’s doing very well, both in pre-season and in training, he’s focused and ready to play, but we also have to look at what we do because the players coming up behind him are very young,” said Flick in the press conference prior to the match against Getafe on Wednesday at Montjuïc.
Speaking to the media, and following Marc-André Ter Stegen’s serious knee injury, he confirmed that they will discuss the signing of a goalkeeper, but that they are “comfortable” with Iñaki Peña, in whom they trust. “At the moment, we don’t feel pressured and we trust Iñaki. It’s very difficult for a goalkeeper like him, who is not a starter, to be ready to play. We have to look after the squad,” he clarified.
He also praised Lamine Yamal and his exponential growth in recent months, arguing that “quality has nothing to do with age.” “At his age, it’s true that Lamine Yamal is doing incredible things. As to whether he is the best, I am 100 percent sure that he can become the best in the world. It’s incredible what he does with the ball,” he said.
Flick ruled out a rest for the young Spanish winger. “He’s fine and he feels fine. We’ll assess him, but I don’t think he’ll need to rest tomorrow. It’s also important to note that we’re playing at home, and we have to start with a fantastic eleven. We’ve already seen what he’s doing this season. We have to continue with this performance, also so that our fans can see it,” he added.
On the referees’ protection of players like Lamine Yamal, the Barça coach thinks they are doing “well”. “They are looking after Lamine. They give him a yellow card straight away. We have to look after the player, him and all the players,” he said.
And he did not forget the Brazilian Raphinha and his great start, “giving his best to the team.” “He brings much-needed dynamics to the games. Everyone in the dressing room loves him too, and it’s great to have these much-loved players in the group. He gives his all to the team, and for me that’s the most important thing,” said Flick.
“I think that the good atmosphere, the good environment, is a very important aspect, and we have it. I hope that all the players feel the confidence that I have in them because it is a very important issue. We are all contributing to generating an environment that encourages the player to offer his best performance,” he said.
The Heidelberg native said he is not surprised by Lewandowski’s “performance” so far. “He has scored six goals but he also needs players around him, and the style of play we have gives him plenty of opportunities to score. That’s what we want, to play well, also for the fans,” he explained.
“We analysed the game against Villarreal and there are many areas in which we can improve, so it is clear that we have not reached our best form. There is always something more to contribute. We are doing well, but we are taking it step by step,” said the FC Barcelona coach about the current form of the team, which leads La Liga with a full record of victories.
Finally, as well as announcing that there may be rotations in defence against Getafe, Flick spoke about Araujo’s recovery and his importance. “We don’t know when he will be back. I’m very happy to see him. We need him because he is very big and because of how he defends. It’s fantastic to have him in the dressing room, and he is also one of our captains. I always like having him with us,” he concluded.