Hansi Flick warns Lamine Yamal to 'take responsibility over his body'

Hansi Flick has warned Lamine Yamal to ‘take responsibility over his body’ as the manager realizes how much pressure has been placed on the young lad throughout the season.

The 17-year-old has been an important figure for Flick this after featuring in 39 matches across all competitions.

He has been impressive, with a tally of 13 goals and 17 assists, cementing his place as a key contributor to the team’s title ambitions.

His omission from the starting XI in Sunday’s game against Girona will be the first on the bench in the last four months.

The only time Yamal was named as a substitute was on November 30 against Las Palmas, when he was recovering from an ankle injury.

This decision had nothing to do with tactics, as he was later introduced at half-time to make an impact on the team.

Lamine Yamal playing for Barcelona (Image credit: Barcelona)

With very important matches both in the La Liga and Champions League looming, Flick is eager to avoid fatigue among his key players, particularly as Barcelona continues to compete on multiple fronts.

Speaking to reporters, Flick discussed the prospect of resting the young Barcelona winger, even though he is aware Yamal is smart and knows how to manage himself well enough.

“I think Lamine is very intelligent and knows how to manage the game,” the manager said. “I spoke to him this morning to find out how he is, and he is very positive.

“I always speak to the players. If they feel something, they can come and tell me what is happening to them.

“Every player has responsibility for their bodies. If something happens or there is something different to normal, they have to speak.

“That’s what we want because in my experience as a player, if you notice something and you don’t take care of it, something ends up happening.

“I want the players to take responsibility for their bodies. It’s an important thing when you play as a professional, at a level like Barcelona,” said Flick.

Interestingly, Yamal is the fifth most-utilized player in the squad – trailing only Jules Kounde, Raphinha, Pedri, and Pau Cubarsí -playing over 3,181 minutes this season already.

Barcelona plays Girona next on Sunday but faces a rather stiff challenge just days later in the Copa del Rey semi-final against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano.

Ahead of that, Barcelona faces a tight run of fixtures, including a league match against Real Betis next Saturday, followed by the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund.