**Luis de la Fuente**, Spain's coach, wanted to put an end to the controversy with **Hansi Flick** regarding the situation of **Lamine Yamal**. The coach from Rioja denied any conflict with the **FC Barcelona** coach and defended his decision to **call up the young Barça attacker** for the October matches despite the discomfort he was experiencing.
In a press conference, De la Fuente assured that Lamine did not present physical problems before the last match with the national team and that the discomfort appeared later. At the same time, he criticized Flick's lack of empathy, recalling that the German was also a coach and should better understand the management of these cases.
## De la Fuente denies previous discomfort from Lamine
Asked about the September call-up, the coach explained that Lamine Yamal did not report any ailments before the match in which he participated:
> "At most he had normal discomfort, but he didn't communicate anything before. The discomfort came after the match."
These statements by Luis de la Fuente seek to dispel the idea that the Federation took unnecessary risks with the player.
### Coach's spat with the press The presence of Lamine Yamal was the most repeated topic in the appearance and even provoked a tense moment between De la Fuente and the journalist Joaquín Maroto. The coach, annoyed by the insistence of the questions, reaffirmed his conviction that the decision was correct and that the medical team assessed all the details. > Luis de la Fuente: "The risk with Lamine Yamal is the same as the one Barça takes"
Another key point was the comparison between the national team and the Barça club. De la Fuente pointed out that the risks of fielding Lamine Yamal are exactly the same for both Barça and Spain: "If he plays with his club, he can also play with the national team," he stated emphatically.
## Luis de la Fuente's response to Hansi Flick The controversy was triggered when Hansi Flick criticized in a press conference that Lamine had played with painkillers under the orders of De la Fuente. The German coach, very harsh in his statements, accused the coach of "not taking care" of the player. Today, De la Fuente flatly denied these accusations: > "There is no conflict with Flick. I was surprised that a former coach would say that, but everyone is entitled to their opinion."
The tension between club and national team is reminiscent of other past episodes with Barça players, in which physical discomfort and international call-ups have generated friction. However, De la Fuente wanted to close ranks and convey calm, assuring that communication with the Barça medical services is constant and fluid.
De la Fuente, aware of the importance of the young star, made it clear that he will not take unnecessary risks, although he insists that the forward's talent is vital for the Spanish national team's project heading into the 2026 World Cup.
* For more **news about Lamine Yamal** visit our section of Barça's '10' in **FC Barcelona Noticias**.