"Lamine is a special player, and I know we have to balance his minutes, but for him the most important thing is to enjoy playing football, and at the moment that’s the case and I don’t want to interrupt that situation," Hansi Flick said to si.com. The problem for Barcelona is that Lamine Yamal has started every match this season, and he has played the full 90 minutes in eight of them.

Barcelona's recent run has made the load harder to manage. They have won 10 consecutive matches, and Yamal has contributed eight goals and nine assists in that spell. He has also logged 747 La Liga minutes, which is a lot of work for a teenager who is still being pushed to the front of almost every big game.

Barcelona's run of fixtures

The schedule does not give Flick much breathing room. Barcelona face Real Betis away, Paris Saint Germain away, Real Madrid at home and Alaves at home, so the choices around Yamal's minutes are arriving in a very tight window.

That is the awkward part of Barcelona's hot start. Yamal has 8 goals and 6 assists in 9 La Liga appearances this season, and an 8.3 league rating, so the case for keeping him on the pitch is obvious. Flick's job is to protect that level without cutting across it, and October is giving him very little room to do both.

The workload Flick has to manage

The rotation argument is not really about doubting Yamal. It is about whether Barcelona can keep getting the same output while easing the strain on a player who has already started every game and finished eight of them.

Flick's own words point to the balance he wants. Yamal is producing and enjoying his football, but the fixtures against Betis, PSG, Real Madrid and Alaves mean Barcelona may need to pick their moment rather than waiting for one to appear naturally.

FAQ

Why is Hansi Flick worried about Lamine Yamal's workload?

Yamal has started every match this season and played the full 90 minutes in eight of them. He has also logged 747 La Liga minutes, while Barcelona face Real Betis, Paris Saint Germain, Real Madrid and Alaves in quick succession. Flick said he has to balance the winger's minutes.

How good has Lamine Yamal been for Barcelona this season?

He has produced 8 goals and 6 assists in 9 La Liga appearances. Barcelona have won 10 consecutive matches, and Yamal has contributed 8 goals and 9 assists in that run, which explains why Flick keeps relying on him.

Will Barcelona rest Lamine Yamal in the coming fixtures?

Flick said he does not want to interrupt Yamal's rhythm, but Barcelona's schedule leaves little margin. The club face Real Betis on Oct. 17, Paris Saint Germain on Oct. 20, Real Madrid on Oct. 25 and Alaves on Oct. 31.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →