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Barcelona's young star Lamine Yamal is gradually regaining his form, according to coach Hansi Flick, as the team prepares for their upcoming La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano. The 19-year-old, who was the La Liga Player of the Year last season, has been under scrutiny following his first match of the season against Elche, where he struggled to make an impact.
Flick acknowledged the concerns surrounding Yamal's performance, emphasizing the challenges he faced following his recovery from a hamstring injury and his participation in the World Cup with Spain. "Everyone is worried about how Lamine is doing," Flick said. "And of course, look at his situation – he played a World Cup after a huge injury."
Despite his return to action at the World Cup, where Spain clinched the title, Yamal's individual impact was limited. However, Flick expressed optimism about the winger's progress. "Now he's coming back after three weeks holiday, and also the first game maybe was not his best game," Flick noted. "But I was very happy that he started the game and he worked for the team."
In Barcelona's second match of the season against Athletic Bilbao, Yamal showed improvement, although he did not score. The coach praised his efforts, saying, "He played 90 minutes against Bilbao. And for him at the moment, it's also good to have 90 minutes on the pitch." Flick also highlighted Yamal's return to top-level performance, noting, "We saw him in some situations really on this top level. And now, you couldn't see this in the training today, but I saw it, and it was excellent."
Yamal's mood seemed to improve significantly from his disappointment after the Elche match to his happier demeanor during training before the Rayo Vallecano clash. Flick acknowledged the importance of a positive atmosphere, saying, "Of course, it's always good when the players are smiling, but it's not every day the same way. I'm also not smiling every day. It's like that."
Barcelona's opening fixtures have seen the team win both matches, with Raphinha stepping in as a makeshift number nine after the club failed to secure top transfer target Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid. Despite the setbacks, Flick remains content with the players at his disposal. "Of course, I'm happy with my team," Flick said. "We don't have pressure."
The team's sporting director, Deco, is actively working to strengthen the squad, and Flick reiterated his satisfaction with the current roster. "We don't have pressure," Flick concluded. "We don't have pressure."
As Barcelona continues its La Liga campaign, the return of Yamal to his best form could be a crucial factor in their quest for success. With the support of his coach and teammates, the young winger is poised to make a significant impact on the pitch once again.
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