Barcelona manager Flick: ‘Upset’ Yamal will soon be in a ‘happier state’
Lamine Yamal’s frustration at the conclusion of Barcelona’s crucial 2-1 victory over Atlético Madrid in LaLiga on Saturday was attributed to the intensity of the match, as stated by coach Hansi Flick.
Yamal refrained from celebrating Robert Lewandowski’s late goal as league leaders Barça established a seven-point lead over Real Madrid, who were defeated by Mallorca earlier that day, and he appeared visibly upset about something at fulltime.
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“He was a bit upset,” Flick confirmed during the post-match press conference. “He put in a lot of effort, aiming to score and provide the final pass. It’s understandable.
“Naturally, he has strong feelings. This was an emotional game, but he’s in the locker room now, and everything is fine.”
Flick’s remarks were somewhat ambiguous, yet he indicated that Yamal’s frustration was not related to his performance and expressed confidence that he would be in a “better mood” when the two teams meet again on Wednesday at Spotify Camp Nou for the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal.
“It wasn’t due to his performance; he played well,” Flick added. “[Just] some moments, he gave it his all, but at this time, he hasn’t had the luck to score, but that can change.
“I can’t say for sure [why he was upset], but [there was] a lot of emotion in the match, and Lamine was determined to score the second goal.
“We have three days now to prepare for the next match. It’s a very significant one in the Champions League, and he will be in a better mood than he was after the game.”
Since netting a hat trick against Villarreal in February, Yamal has scored only three goals in his last nine appearances for club and country, with two of those coming from penalties and just one from open play.
Nevertheless, he played a key role as Barça defeated Atlético, moving closer to securing a second consecutive LaLiga title under Flick.
After Marcus Rashford equalized following Giuliano Simeone’s opening goal at the Metropolitano, the match shifted just before halftime when Nicolás González was sent off for bringing down Yamal, while a red card for Barça’s Gerard Martín was rescinded shortly thereafter.
Atlético defended effectively with ten players, but they were denied a point when Lewandowski scored in the 87th minute after Juan Musso had saved a shot from João Cancelo.
This victory puts Barça seven points ahead of Madrid with only eight matches remaining, including the Clásico at Camp Nou on May 10, while Atlético sits fourth, 12 points clear of fifth place.
“Everyone understands that these were crucial points today; this match day was very significant for us,” Flick remarked regarding the increased lead over Madrid. “However, everyone knows [LaLiga is] not finished. We’re pleased, but we didn’t celebrate.”
Barça will host Atlético in the second of three encounters between the two sides on Wednesday. The trilogy will conclude the following Tuesday back at the Metropolitano for the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal.
