Barcelona coach Hansi Flick defended Lamine Yamal after the teenager was seen frustrated at being substituted late in the match against Levante.
Flick brought Yamal on in the 88th minute then took him off for Rooney Bardghji. When asked about Yamal’s reaction, Flick downplayed it and emphasized the team’s win and giving chances to other players.
"What was his reaction? Was he angry? That’s normal. For me, the most important thing is that we won, and there are also players who deserve to play, like Bardghji," Flick said.
"I liked seeing his attitude when he came on. And that's it. You guys make a big deal out of everything Lamine does. If he’s upset about being substituted, that’s human."
Flick also praised his scorers Joao Cancelo and Marc Bernal.
"We took the opportunity to return to the top spots. It’s a very long road. Not everything was good; we needed some minutes to get into the match," he added.
"[Cancelo] was good today, showing his potential and positive qualities. We’ll see if he ends up starting. I also want to see a good attitude in training, and he can help us a lot."
"Bernal is a player for the future of the club. That’s what I wish for him. That he stays healthy. He gives us structure, has been good with the ball, and controls the tempo."
The win was a good response after defeats to Atletico Madrid and Girona, and the team now has a free week before facing Villarreal.
