Hansi Flick hail Lamine Yamal display for Barcelona 4-1 Champions League win over Galatasaray on Tuesday night, but the German coach also get words of criticism for im players. E dey delighted with the win for Ali Sami Yen, and e feel say im side play well for first half before dem run into trouble when the hosts take one of dia chances.
The Catalans come from behind to take all three points, with Fermin Lopez, Anthony Gordon, Joao Cancelo and Karim Adeyemi all put dia name for scoresheet.
Flick talk am inside comments wey Spanish newspaper Marca highlight, and e tell Movistar say, ‘We dey very happy with the result. We play well for first half too, and the opponent get one chance and score from am, but we manage to come back, and that was extremely important.’
The scoreline flatter nobody, yet Flick still want more from im team for details, especially when e come to decision-making for final third. E explain, ‘I think say when we perform well for Champions League, we no dey make the right decisions for some situations for final third of the pitch, and that na something we must improve. Playing for this stadium, amid this crowd atmosphere, no easy, but I dey very happy.’
Yamal draw glowing words from im coach. No goal, but two assists, and Flick insist say the teenager influence no need finish to prove itself. E say, ‘Lamine no score today, but he provide the final pass for two goals, and he excellent. He na amazing player and extremely important for us.’
Dem ask why e leave the youngster for full 90 minutes, and the German add say, ‘He dey physically ready, he na important player, and e good for am to dey out there for pitch.’ When dem ask wetin dem talk for dressing room at half-time, Flick no tell. E say, ‘That one go stay inside dressing room.’
Barcelona now get six points from two wins and sit top of table provisionally on goal difference, ahead of Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon. The result also mean say e now 10 wins from 10 games for Barcelona in 2026-27. Dem now head back to Spain for La Liga clash with Real Betis.
Former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta don express im admiration for Lamine Yamal, saying the 19-year-old forward achievements extraordinary for player of im age. Idman.biz reports say Yamal dey among contenders for Ballon d'Or. The winner of the prestigious individual award go announce for ceremony for London on October 26.
Dem ask Iniesta whether wetin Yamal dey do at age 19 fit consider normal, and e give clear answer. E tell Mundo Deportivo say, ‘No, e no normal, because otherwise more players go dey capable to do am. E no normal. Wetin really beautiful and important na im ambition, how natural e dey and the fact say, considering im age, e get wonderful future ahead of am.’
The former Spain international also highlight the challenge Yamal face after e don already win major trophies so early for im career. E talk say, ‘The challenge for footballer and for clubs like Barca dey come back every year. E no be about wetin you don already win, but about having to keep winning every year. That na wetin e be about, and that now na the challenge for players like am, wey at such young age don already win very important trophies, perhaps even the most important ones, but every year dem have to keep doing am again and again.’
Yamal don establish imself as one of Barcelona key players despite im young age and dem regard am as one of leading talents of im generation.
