“The level he’s showing is fantastic” - Barcelona boss Hansi Flick names area where Lamine Yamal has ‘improved a lot’

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has heaped praise on Lamine Yamal. He explained that the youngster has improved in defensive contributions and pressing in the game.

Lamine Yamal has been a key player for the Blaugrana since his debut at just 15 in 2023. He's scored seven goals and provided nine assists in 15 games across competitions this season despite his injury issues. The Spaniard has helped Barcelona sit atop the LaLiga standings after 15 games this season.

The Blaugrana beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 at Spotify Camp Nou in their previous game on December 2. In a press conference, Hansi Flick claimed that he saw Yamal's improved pressing and defensive contributions in the game, saying (h/t Barca Universal):

“We always talk about players in offensive and defensive roles; he also helped the team a lot against Atlético by pressing. He has improved a lot in defence, but also in attack; the level he is showing is fantastic, I love watching him.

“He is a player who always wants to improve; he wants to keep going and beat the next opponent. Sometimes it’s not easy, there are many players in La Liga who like these one-on-one situations, but in Lamine’s case, 90% of the time it’s a foul, but he keeps going."

Yamal played 88 minutes against Atletico Madrid and completed 37/54 passes, making two key passes and creating two big chances. He attempted three shots, completed 9/16 dribble attempts, made nine recoveries, and won 10/19 duels (via SofaScore).

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Barcelona star Lamine Yamal explains what he wants to achieve in football

The 18-year-old winger has already achieved a lot in football. He has helped Barcelona win a domestic treble and Spain win a UEFA Euros trophy. He also finished second in the Ballon d'Or 2025 rankings behind Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) talisman, Ousmane Dembele.

In an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes, however, Lamine Yamal claimed that his aim is to enjoy football and inspire kids. He said:

“My goal isn’t to break all records, to score a million goals, to play a million matches. I’m an athlete who wants to enjoy himself. I hope kids want to be like me. In the end, the goal is for people to enjoy and deliver a bit of a show in football."

"I would like to change people’s day. If someone is sad and watches my match, I want their mood to improve. I want them to go back home happier than they were," he added.

Yamal has scored 32 goals and provided 43 assists in 121 senior games for Barcelona.