Ballon d’Or disappointment will drive Yamal on, says Barca boss Flick
BARCELONA – Barcelona coach Hansi Flick says teenage winger Lamine Yamal will use his Ballon d’Or disappointment as fuel after finishing second to Ousmane Dembele in Paris this week.
The 18-year-old lost out to the former Barca forward, now at Paris Saint-Germain, in the race to be named the world’s best player, but he did pick up the Kopa Trophy for best young talent. Flick reckons the setback will only sharpen Yamal’s edge.
“I spoke with him yesterday and he sees it the right way,” Flick told reporters on Wednesday. “For him it’s motivation for the next years. Dembele deserved it also, it’s a vote, a lot of things can happen. He accepted it in a good way and he’s motivated to show it this season. Maybe next season he will be an option for the Ballon d’Or.”
Yamal had a breakout campaign as Barcelona landed a domestic treble – La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup – but he will sit out Thursday’s trip to Real Oviedo with a groin injury. Barca trail Real Madrid by five points after Los Blancos hammered Levante 4-1 on Tuesday.
The teenager’s absence hurt the Catalans last season, yet they have coped without him in recent weeks, thrashing Valencia and Getafe. Flick, though, says he’s not dwelling on injuries. “I never think about which player we are missing, I focus only on the team we have. Every starting XI can win matches. It’s not a big problem,” he said.
Barca also face months without midfielder Gavi, who had knee surgery on Tuesday. The 21-year-old only recently returned from nearly a year out after tearing knee ligaments in November 2023.
“We have to take care of him, step by step. He’s 21, he’s got a huge career in the next 10, 15 years,” said Flick. “He’s a player with a big heart, with a lot of emotion, he lives for this club. Of course, we are waiting until he’s back. It’s not easy for the team because he has huge quality, but everyone will support him and help him reach his level again.”