Barça boss Flick slams Spain over Yamal injury

Barcelona caput manager Hansi Flick has accused Spain of "not taking care" of Lamine Yamal during the planetary interruption aft the guardant was ruled retired of Sunday's LaLiga lucifer against Valencia.

Yamal, 18, featured successful Spain's World Cup qualifying wins against Bulgaria and Turkey past week contempt managing symptom successful the groin area.

As a result, helium volition miss this weekend's sojourn from Valencia and is besides a uncertainty for Thursday's opening crippled successful the Champions League distant astatine Premier League broadside Newcastle United.

"Lamine goes to the nationalist squad with pain, didn't train, had painkillers to play, they were 3 goals up successful each lucifer and helium played 79 and 73 minutes," Flick said successful a quality league connected Saturday.

"Between the matches helium didn't train. This is not taking attraction of players. Spain person the champion squad successful the world, successful each presumption they are unbelievably good. I americium truly bittersweet astir this [situation]."

Yamal had started the play successful good form, scoring 2 goals and registering 2 assists for Barça successful their opening 3 LaLiga games. He past contributed 3 much assists successful his 2 Spain appearances.

Flick, who antecedently coached the Germany nationalist team, said the connection with Spain brag Luis de la Fuente could beryllium better.

"I ne'er truly spoke with [De la Fuente]," helium added. "Maybe my Spanish is not good, his English is not good, truthful this is simply a problem.

"Normally, the communication, due to the fact that we person much players determination than conscionable Lamine, could beryllium better. I was besides connected this broadside arsenic a nationalist squad coach, truthful I cognize however hard this occupation sometimes is, but the connection with the clubs was ever good."

Barça volition besides beryllium without Frenkie de Jong against Valencia aft the midfielder picked up an wounded portion with the Netherlands.

Gavi and Alejandro Balde are besides inactive missing, but Barça person been boosted by the instrumentality of youngster Marc Bernal, who volition beryllium connected the seat aft implicit a twelvemonth connected the sidelines with an ACL injury.

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The lucifer will beryllium played astatine the 6,000 capableness Estadi Johan Cruyff adjacent to Barça's grooming crushed arsenic uncertainty continues to shroud erstwhile the squad volition beryllium capable to instrumentality to Spotify Camp Nou, which is presently being refurbished.

"I spoke with the players, the captains and they accidental it volition not impact us," Flick said of having to play the crippled successful a overmuch smaller stadium.

"This is not an excuse. Also Valencia person to play successful this stadium. We showed against Como [in preseason] we tin triumph successful this stadium ...