Barcelona coach Hansi Flick heaped praise on 17-year-old Lamine Yamal following the teenager\'s crucial performance in Barcelona\'s 4-3 victory over Real Madrid on Sunday. The win puts Barcelona seven points clear at the top of LaLiga with just three games remaining.
Yamal Shows Maturity Beyond His Years
\"He\'s not a kid,\" Flick told reporters at the post-match press conference when asked about Yamal\'s impact. \"He has the confidence, the self-confidence, the belief in what he can do. Also, he\'s very clever.\"
Yamal scored Barcelona\'s second goal with a brilliant curling shot from inside the area, helping his team overcome an early two-goal deficit. The teenager\'s performance was instrumental in Barcelona\'s comeback, which saw them take a 4-2 lead by halftime.
The victory leaves Barcelona needing just two points from their remaining three matches to secure the LaLiga title. They could be crowned champions as early as Thursday when they face local rivals Espanyol, or even Wednesday if Madrid drop points against Mallorca.
\"He\'s not a kid,\" said Flick. \"He\'s doing good. He has the confidence, the self-confidence, the belief in what he can do. Also, he\'s very clever.
\"He brought us back [into the match] today with his goal, a very important goal. This, at 17 years old, it\'s really high quality. This is what we want from him,\" Flick added about Yamal\'s performance.
Despite Barcelona\'s attacking prowess, Flick acknowledged defensive improvements are needed for next season. \"We have to improve a lot. Also the defense. Maybe it\'s better that we\'re more stable,\" the coach admitted after his team conceded three goals to Mbappé.
Barcelona has now beaten Real Madrid in all four Clasicos this season and stands on the verge of completing a domestic treble, having already secured the Spanish Supercopa and Copa del Rey titles.
Flick Lauds Team\'s Resilience
The comeback victory marked Barcelona\'s seventh recovery from a two-goal deficit this season, showcasing the mental strength Flick has instilled in his squad. \"The mentality of my team is unbelievable,\" the German coach said. \"It\'s great to see that they have the power to come back.\"