Barcelona Head Coach Hansi Flick has expressed his delight at the return of Lamine Yamal, despite the team's disappointing 3-3 draw against Club Brugge in their recent Champions League match. The Spanish giants had to fight back three times to secure a point in a thrilling encounter in Belgium.
The match saw Club Brugge take the lead multiple times, with goals from Nicolo Tresoldi and a brace from Carlos Forbs. Barcelona responded each time, with goals from Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal, and an own goal by Christos Tzolis. Despite the stalemate, Yamal's performance was a major positive for Barcelona. The young winger, who has been battling a groin issue, showcased his talent with a goal and an assist, reminding everyone of his importance to the team.
"It's a game I think we have to win, but we have to do things a lot better," Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong told Movistar. "We have to adjust some things, we know that, we're working on it... if you let in three goals it's difficult to win," De Jong added. Barcelona's defense struggled throughout the match, allowing Brugge's attackers to exploit their high defensive line.
Flick, however, remains committed to his team's style of play. "We can speak about changing everything, but I am not a coach to change this," said Flick. "We want to play (how) our DNA is... we are Barca," he affirmed.
Yamal's return comes as a welcome boost for Barcelona, who have missed his creativity and attacking threat. The 18-year-old had been sidelined with a muscle injury sustained during international duty with Spain. He missed several matches, including La Liga clashes against Valencia and Getafe, as well as Champions League games against Newcastle United and Real Oviedo.
Despite Yamal's absence, Barcelona managed to maintain their winning momentum. Players like Marcus Rashford, Raphinha, Ferran Torres, and Robert Lewandowski stepped up. However, Flick is eager to have Yamal back in the starting lineup, recognizing his value to the team.
There had been concerns about Yamal's fitness, with reports suggesting that he was struggling with a chronic groin injury. Flick acknowledged that Yamal "experiences some discomfort on certain days" but insisted that the player is "doing well" and "improving and pushing himself".
The Barcelona coach emphasized the importance of managing Yamal's workload to avoid further injury. The club's medical staff have reportedly advised that Yamal spend more time on the bench to ensure a full recovery. This means that he may not play every game and could be substituted more frequently.
Looking ahead, Barcelona will need to address their defensive vulnerabilities if they want to compete for major trophies. While Yamal's return provides a spark in attack, the team must find a way to be more solid at the back. The draw against Club Brugge leaves Barcelona 11th in the Champions League standings, with both teams still in contention for qualification.
