Barca’s Flick blasts Spain over Yamal injury issue

BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick lashed out at the Spanish national team on Saturday after Lamine Yamal was ruled out of his team’s La Liga clash against Valencia.
The 18-year-old winger did not train with the Spanish champions because of a groin issue ahead of the game on Sunday, and is also a doubt to face Newcastle in the Champions League on Thursday.
Yamal played twice for Spain in 2026 World Cup qualifying wins against Bulgaria and Turkiye last week.
“He will not be available — for me it’s a pity. He went to the national team with pain, he did not train, he got painkillers for playing,” Flick told a news conference Saturday.
“In every match they were three goals (or more) ahead, he played 79 and 73 minutes.

Between the matches he didn’t train. This is not taking care about players.
“Spain have best team in the world best players in the world.

In every position they are unbelievably good. Maybe also when we want to take care of players, young players, it’s like that, doing this...

I’m really sad about this.”
Flick said he had spoken briefly to Spain coach Luis de la Fuente via text message but their communication could be improved.
“Maybe it’s all about my Spanish not (being) good, his English not good. Communication...