Hansi Flick used his Champions League build-up to put Lamine Yamal front and centre. The Barcelona manager said Yamal can decide games by himself, while also giving updates on Frenkie de Jong and Jesse Bisiwu before Feyenoord arrive.
Flick's message on Yamal
“He can decide games by himself. He loves getting better and you can see that every day. What he shows is that he loves playing football. If he does that then he is at his best,” Flick said.
It is the sort of backing Barcelona want to hear before a Champions League opener. Yamal already has four goals this season, and Flick's view is that the winger's ceiling is still being pushed higher with each game.
Barcelona's team news before Feyenoord
Flick also clarified the fitness situation in the squad. “He [Bisiwu] won’t be in the squad tomorrow, but he’s fine. He will train with us and play for Barça B. He has a lot of potential in attack and defence. He has a chance of playing for us in the future,” he said.
On de Jong, Flick added: “After his injury, he needs to come back and train hard, which is what he’s doing. We will see him in a few weeks, and we’ll see what happens after the international break – it’s important to take it one day at a time.”
The broader backdrop is strong enough already. Barcelona have won four straight La Liga matches and scored 17 goals in that run, while Feyenoord come in unbeaten across five matches with three wins. The home side may still have one eye on their fitness list, but the edge in confidence is obvious.
One detail is still being reported differently, with some outlets placing the opener at Camp Nou or Spotify Camp Nou and others not. What is not in doubt is the angle Flick chose to stress: Yamal first, then the squad updates, with the game against Feyenoord coming next.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
