Hansi Flick explains Lamine Yamal’s drop to the bench vs Celta Vigo | OneFootball

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has provided an insight into the reasoning behind Lamine Yamal’s absence from his latest starting XI.

Barcelona are of course primed to return to action in short order.

With focus back on their ongoing pursuit of the La Liga title, the Blaugrana have welcomed Celta Vigo to Catalunya’s capital.

In the case of emerging on the right side of the result on Saturday, Hansi Flick’s troops will (at least temporarily) open up a seven-point advantage over closest challengers Real Madrid.

In turn, it may have come as a surprise to some to hear of the aforementioned Lamine Yamal being left out of Barca’s line-up for the day.

The 17-year-old has been forced to make do with a spot on the bench, with Ferran Torres taking his place in the hosts’ attack.

Speaking to the media ahead of kick-off at Montjuïc, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of Lamine’s benching was put to his manager.

And Hansi Flick was quick to assure that as much has come simply to afford a rest to his wing prodigy:

“It shouldn’t be a big surprise because he has played a lot of minutes, and we talked about this yesterday. I think today he should rest.”

Conor Laird – GSFN