Flick does not guarantee that Lamine will make it to El Clásico and criticizes Bernal's call-up

Lamine Yamal was the central topic of Hansi Flick's press conference prior to this Sunday's Sevilla-FC Barcelona match (4:15 PM CEST). The '10' will be out for matchday 8 of LaLiga and will also not travel with the National Team for the October FIFA date. In that sense, the coach was blunt in ratifying his position on the management of the player's minutes.

"We spoke this morning and explained how we can help him. Everyone knows about his quality, but it's my responsibility to give him playing time when he returns. And I will," the Barça coach began, speaking about Lamine's physical condition.

In addition, he once again referred to the exchange of statements with Luis de la Fuente regarding how the Spanish coach managed the Barça winger in the previous break. "I must protect my player, and that's why I made those comments. Maybe I made them more forcefully than usual... But it's water under the bridge. I don't think negatively," Flick warned.

## Flick does not guarantee Lamine Yamal's presence in the J10 ClásicoRegarding when Yamal will play again, the Barcelona coach avoided giving specific dates. It will all depend on his progress in the coming weeks and how he assimilates the rest during the break. "We don't know when he'll be back... with this injury it's not easy, it's not a muscular injury. **We don't know if he'll be back in two, three or four weeks. I don't know if he'll be back for the Clásico**," said Flick.

Lamine Yamal, training at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.

In principle, Lamine is definitely out for the match against Sevilla this Sunday and is doubtful for matchday 9 of La Liga, against Girona at home on Saturday, October 18. On Tuesday the 21st, they will host Oympiacos for Champions League. Then, on Sunday the 26th, it will be time for the first Clásico against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Beyond the importance of these matches for Barça, **the coaching staff will not take any risks with Lamine Yamal**. Pubalgia usually requires recovery times of three to four weeks, but great care must be taken to avoid relapses that generate a chronic condition. "You have to manage his minutes. Lamine will work with the recovery team. He will go step by step. We'll see how he evolves." ## Hansi Flick, annoyed by Marc Bernal's call-up to the U-21 team

On the other hand, the Barça coach expressed his concern about Marc Bernal's call-up to the Spain U-21 team for the match against Finland, which is a qualifier for the European Championship in that category.

"It's a difficult situation. He's not ready to play many minutes. I don't know what the Federation wants from him, as of today he's not ready for many minutes. He's coming off a serious injury of more than a year," Flick began, speaking about the 18-year-old midfielder.

Bernal completed the preseason with the first team, but was not medically cleared until mid-September. Afterward, he played 9 minutes against Valencia, the match against Getafe, and another 11' against PSG in the Champions League.

"Marc is not one hundred percent. He is not at the physical level he was before the injury. The Federation should be careful and take care of him," Hansi Flick said about the man from Berga.>

Regarding the changes in the breaks of the 26/27 season: "I don't know if it will be good or not. Maybe for the Federation it's good to have its players for more days... but I don't have an opinion about it."

## Flick trusts the learning left by the defeat against PSG

Regarding the match against Sevilla, Flick anticipates a difficult game at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, but he is confident in the team's response to turn the page on the defeat against PSG (1-2). The Champions League result caused widespread disappointment, but the squad has already moved on.

"**We know Sevilla well, they play aggressively, intensely... they have their own style and a good fan base behind them. It will be a difficult match**," he said about the match on matchday 8 of La Liga. The Hispalenses have 10 points out of a possible 21 and are in 10th place in the standings. In that sense, Flick added: "The match in Seville is very important and we want to take the three points. Everyone is sad after the defeat (against Paris). We have to be smarter and more intelligent. We have to learn and we will." "If there's no pressure on the ball, the last line can't be so high up. We've improved in the last few games, but we have to keep training it."