Hansi Flick has praised Lamine Yamal after Barcelona secured an impressive 5-2 victory over Real Betis, describing the young winger as the best player in the world at the moment.
Barcelona delivered an attacking masterclass against Betis, with Yamal and Dani Olmo among the standout performers as Flick’s side continued to demonstrate their quality in front of goal.
Speaking after the match, Flick expressed his admiration for Yamal’s performance and revealed the message he gave the teenager when deciding to substitute him.
“Lamine Yamal is the best player in the world at the moment,”
the Barcelona manager said.
“When I subbed him off, I told him I’m proud of him.”
Flick’s comments underline the confidence he has in Yamal, who has continued to attract attention for his creativity, technical ability and influence in Barcelona’s attacking play. The manager’s decision to praise him publicly also reflects the importance of maintaining the youngster’s confidence as he continues to develop.
Barcelona’s 5-2 victory over Real Betis was another statement of their attacking strength, with Yamal opening the scoring in the 10th minute before Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo completed the emphatic win. Real Betis responded through Valentín Gómez and Ez Abde, but Barcelona maintained control and moved further clear at the top of LaLiga.
Flick also explained his decision to substitute Yamal in the 70th minute, making it clear that the change was not a reflection of dissatisfaction with his performance. Instead, the Barcelona coach wanted to manage the winger’s workload while protecting his contribution to the team over a demanding run of fixtures.
The German manager’s praise will further fuel discussions about Yamal’s place among the world’s elite players. His ability to create chances, score spectacular goals and influence important matches has made him one of Barcelona’s most valuable players.
With Olmo also shining against Betis, Barcelona will hope their attacking depth continues to deliver as the season progresses. The convincing result gives Flick’s side further momentum ahead of a challenging period that includes European competition and the upcoming El Clásico against Real Madrid