Barcelona coach Hansi Flick believes 17-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal must continue to work hard and deliver consistently to reach the elite level of legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Flick made these comments Friday ahead of Barcelona\'s upcoming LaLiga match against Real Valladolid.
\"When you are able to play at this level, you have to show it again. It\'s not about one game,\" Flick said. \"Every player has potential to get better and this is also what he needs.\"
The comments follow Yamal\'s outstanding performance in Barcelona\'s 3-3 Champions League semifinal first leg draw against Inter Milan on Wednesday. The teenage sensation scored Barcelona\'s first goal in the match, earning praise from both Flick, who called him a \"genius,\" and Inter coach Simone Inzaghi, who described him as a talent that emerges \"only once every 50 years.\"
Consistency Key To Reaching Legendary Status
\"It\'s not only the talent, the genius he is, it\'s also hard work when you want to reach this level, [like Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Lionel] Messi, the big, big players in the past,\" Flick emphasized.
\"We all have to stay calm and let\'s see what happens. We are really happy that he\'s playing with us and he\'s on this level at 17, it\'s unbelievable,\" the Barcelona coach added.
Yamal has been in remarkable form this season, contributing 15 goals and 24 assists across all competitions. His Champions League performance has been particularly impressive with five goals and three assists in 12 matches.
Despite his outstanding form, Flick hinted that Yamal could be rested for Saturday\'s LaLiga match against bottom-placed Real Valladolid as the team manages his playing time.