Hansi Flick Backs Lamine Yamal but Is Fed Up With the Ballon d’Or Debate: “I’ll Be Happy When This Is Over”

Hansi Flick backed Lamine Yamal in the Ballon d’Or race but admitted he is fed up with a debate he considers inevitable in elite soccer.

Hansi Flick, Increasingly Tired of the Ballon d’Or Debate

The Ballon d’Or continues to dominate much of the conversation surrounding Barcelona, but Hansi Flick appears increasingly eager to put the subject to rest. Ahead of the clash against Racing, the German coach was repeatedly asked about Lamine Yamal’s candidacy, his recent comments, and the club’s stance on the award.

Flick made no secret of his support for the young forward, although he also made it clear that he would like the debate to end as soon as possible.

Flick Backs Lamine Yamal, Even With Some Reservations

According to his comments during the press conference, the coach understands why Lamine is confident enough to say that he deserves the trophy, but believes that, when the time comes, the people responsible for the award will have the final say.

“I’ll be happy when they make the decision and this is over,” Flick said when discussing the subject, making it clear that the discussion has become a constant presence around the team.

Flick admitted that he might have preferred Lamine Yamal not to have made certain public comments about the Ballon d’Or, but at the same time defended the forward’s honesty and self-confidence.

“Why shouldn’t we campaign for Lamine? He’s our player,” Flick said, making it clear that Barcelona sees no problem in publicly supporting one of its biggest stars.

Lamine’s Scoring Development Is Also Fueling the Debate

Flick also explained that the forward is playing with especially high confidence when he gets close to the penalty area. His movement has also changed when the ball is on the opposite flank, as he now looks to occupy better scoring positions and become an additional threat.

The coach attributed part of that development to the work done in training. He also highlighted the young attacker’s physical condition and growing confidence in front of goal. That combination could be helping Lamine make an even greater impact on the scoresheet.

Flick Wants to Focus on Trophies, Not Individual Awards

Although he has publicly backed Lamine, Flick made it clear that there is a difference between supporting a player and allowing the individual debate to become the priority inside the dressing room.

The coach stressed that individual awards are the result of a full season of work and that, before thinking about individual recognition, Barcelona needs to remain focused on winning matches and building a strong campaign.

Barça are enjoying a positive run of form, and Flick would rather keep the spotlight on the team’s objectives. The upcoming match against Racing represents another opportunity to maintain that momentum and extend the strong start to the season.