‘I’ve learned so much from him’… 17-year-old Barcelona star talks about his relationship with Hansi Flick | OneFootball

There is very little doubt that Hansi Flick has been a rather transformative introduction to FC Barcelona. While the club tried its best to stay true to its philosophy before, it was clear that adaptation was needed. Fortunately, adaptation and a new tactical revolution is exactly what Barcelona got with Flick.

From new internal measures to extreme high-line tactics, the German coach brought alongside him his own take on how football needs to be played. Luckily for both him and this current Barcelona squad, both sets of ideologies seem to be quite compatible with one another.

However, even at a personal level, Flick has done well to adjust with his new players. Despite often being seen as the strict, demanding coach who formerly ruled over in Bavaria as Bayern Munich head coach, the now Barcelona coach has also showcased his softer side on various occasions this season.

Even Lamine Yamal, one of the faces of this new generation of FC Barcelona, had nothing but kind words to say for his coach as highlighted by AS. During a recent interview, the 17-year-old Barça wonderkid was full of praise for the German tactician:

“He’s a very kind person, someone you can talk to. He asks how you’re doing, he teaches a lot, and I’ve learned so much from him. That’s why he’s respected as a coach and as a person. As you can see, he’s strict, but at the same time, he knows how to understand what each player needs at any given moment.”

However, he also highlighted the fact that while Flick does have defensive demands from his forwards, he also gives them enough freedom to express their own style of play:

“When it comes to defensive concepts, he asks certain things from me, but in the offensive aspect, he doesn’t say much, just that I should enjoy, and that’s it. That’s the trust he gives us.”

So far this season, Yamal has been flourishing under Hansi Flick’s guidance. Beyond just being the top assist-provider in La Liga, he is also consistently producing top performances and has established himself as a mainstay for both Barcelona and his country.