Barcelona winger displeased at being taken off as Hansi Flick offers calm response | OneFootball

FC Barcelona returned to winning ways in the UEFA Champions League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt at the Spotify Camp Nou. Jules Kounde emerged as the unlikely hero of the night by scoring both goals for the Blaugrana against a well-organised and defensively disciplined opponent.

Despite the positive result, it was not an especially memorable night for Lamine Yamal. The young winger worked tirelessly and remained involved throughout the match, but failed to influence the game as much as he would have liked.

Even so, he played a decisive role by delivering an excellent assist for one of Kounde’s goals, a contribution that proved vital in securing three crucial points as Barcelona push to finish among the top eight of their Champions League group.

However, frustration marked the end of Yamal’s evening. The youngster picked up his third yellow card of the league phase, which means he will be suspended for the next European fixture against Slavia Prague on January 21.

His absence could prove significant as Barcelona will not only be aiming for victory but will also be under pressure to score as many goals as possible due to potential tiebreak scenarios.

Yamal’s disappointment was further compounded when Hansi Flick substituted him late in the match. As MARCA has noted, the winger left the pitch visibly upset, shaking his head twice as he walked off and then continuing to show his frustration with similar gestures from the bench.

It is not the first time the teenager has reacted emotionally to being taken off, highlighting his strong competitive nature.

Hansi Flick, however, moved quickly to downplay the incident in his post-match press conference. The Barcelona manager explained that the decision was purely tactical and related to Yamal’s booking and the need for fresh legs late in the game.

Flick stressed that he had no issue with the player’s reaction, describing it as the natural response of a young footballer who always wants to stay on the pitch and give everything for the team:

“He was a little disappointed to be taken off, but he had a yellow card, and we needed fresh legs. It’s not a problem. That’s just how he is. I understand him—everyone wants to play, and he thinks he can play 100 minutes. He’s young. It’s a good attitude. I have no problem with it. I was also a player. I accept it.”

As things stand, Yamal will now turn his focus to domestic action and will be hoping to channel his frustration into a strong performance when Barcelona face Osasuna in their next La Liga fixture.