Hansi Flick responds to the Spanish coach following the Yamal controversy

Before traveling to face Sevilla in the 8th round of La Liga, coach Hansi Flick conducted an important press briefing and replied to Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente.

Not long ago, Hansi Flick made a statement that displeased Luis de la Fuente, suggesting that Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old Barcelona talent, needed more rest instead of being overworked at the national team level. This comment sparked a wave of debate within the Spanish football community.

In the latest press conference, the German tactician affirmed he does not regret his words: “I stand by what I said. I only want to protect my players; that’s how I express the view that sometimes we need to pause to safeguard them. That issue is behind us now, and we must focus on the present and future. The key is to manage this situation together, involving the player, the club, and the national team.”

Right after Flick's statement, his concerns became reality. According to Diario AS, although coach De la Fuente included Lamine Yamal in Spain’s squad for matches against Georgia and Bulgaria, Yamal had to withdraw just hours later due to a recurrence of a pubic injury that had sidelined him last month.

Flick confirmed Yamal's condition remains uncertain: “He feels relatively okay; otherwise, he wouldn’t have played against PSG. I spoke with him, and today he is better but not fully fit. This morning, I also asked if there was anything more we could do for him.”

The German coach also acknowledged he does not know when Yamal will be back, leaving open the possibility that he might miss the upcoming El Clasico against Real Madrid. Flick added: “We don’t know yet when he will return. This is not a typical muscle injury but a more complicated issue. It could be 2, 3, or 4 weeks; I cannot say for sure. Yamal will work closely with the medical team, and we have to wait and see how his recovery progresses.”

Not only Yamal, but Hansi Flick also expressed dissatisfaction about young player Marc Bernal being called up to Spain’s U21 team despite just returning from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that sidelined him for over a year.

He further commented: “He is not ready to play many minutes at this stage. Bernal has just come back from a serious injury lasting over a year, so he is definitely not at 100% fitness. I believe the Federation should be more cautious and pay closer attention to his condition.”

After the Champions League defeat to PSG, Flick and his team are aiming to secure all three points against Sevilla to solidify their top spot before the international break. However, with several key players injured and controversies around player call-ups, the German coach faces considerable challenges in this critical phase of the season.

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