Ahead of Barcelona’s next match, Hansi Flick delivered a series of comments carrying several messages at once, but one of them clearly stole the spotlight. The German coach spoke about a young player enjoying one of the best periods of his career and about an individual ambition that has become a major talking point, before making his own position on the growing debate clear.
At the same time, Flick did not limit his comments to Lamine Yamal. He also addressed the situations of Gavi and Alejandro Balde, with fierce competition inside the squad for starting places. While some players appear firmly established in his plans, others are waiting for their opportunity during a long season in which competition is relentless.
Flick fully backed Lamine Yamal’s ambition to compete for the Ballon d’Or after the young winger publicly spoke about his desire to win the award and described himself as one of the best players in the world alongside Kylian Mbappe.
Flick described Yamal as an honest player with tremendous self-confidence, noting that the confidence is also visible on the pitch. He added that this belief in himself is helping the youngster continue producing strong performances and confirmed that he would support Yamal in the Ballon d’Or race because he is a Barcelona player.
The German coach admitted that he might have preferred Yamal not to speak so openly about the award, but he also understands the player’s ambition and believes it is natural for footballers to have confidence in their abilities.
Flick also praised the improvement he has seen in Yamal’s finishing, explaining that his confidence in front of goal has become increasingly obvious and that he is getting more opportunities to score. He stressed that Yamal is currently in excellent form and that what he sees from him in training gives him an indication of what the player can produce during matches.
When asked whether Barcelona are campaigning for Yamal to win the Ballon d’Or, Flick openly supported the idea, stressing that it is natural for the club to support its players, particularly when they are performing at a high level.
However, the German coach also emphasized that team trophies remain more important to him than individual awards. He stressed that winning titles requires daily work and that the team’s current focus should remain on matches and results.
Regarding Gavi, Flick confirmed that the midfielder remains an important part of his plans despite strong competition in the middle of the pitch. He explained that Gavi started the season against Elche before suffering an injury, then returned at a time when the team was performing well, making the management of playing time necessary.
Flick added that Gavi is ambitious and always wants to play, but he needs to maintain a positive mindset and continue working hard in training because Barcelona will need all of their players throughout the season.
Alejandro Balde, meanwhile, is facing a more difficult situation. Flick admitted that the defender is unhappy because he has not received enough playing time, stressing that this is understandable given that Balde had been an important starter for Barcelona during the previous two seasons.
Flick explained that competition for the left-back position has become particularly strong, especially following the impressive performances of youngster Xavi Espart. He also noted that Balde is handling the situation well and continues trying to prove himself in training.
Ahead of the meeting with Racing Santander, Flick insisted that the main objective is to continue winning rather than becoming overly focused on records or long-term targets. Barcelona were looking to reach seven consecutive victories at the start of the league season, but the coach stressed that his focus remains solely on the next match.
Flick also discussed the decision to award Camp Nou the 2029 Champions League final, describing it as very good news for the club and stating that Barcelona’s dream is to win the competition before that date.
When asked whether he would still be Barcelona’s coach for the 2029 final, Flick said he would be there 100 percent, either as the manager or as a supporter, while leaving his future open. He stressed that football is unpredictable and that nobody can know exactly what will happen.