Hansi Flick did not hide his displeasure with the controversy raised by the actions of Lamine Yamal, the young prodigy from Barcelona, who displayed the Palestinian flag during the celebrations of winning the Spanish championship for the second time. In an era marked by strong emotions both on and off the pitch, the German coach made it clear that he is not a fan of mixing politics and sports, but respects the personal decision of the 18-year-old winger.
The image of Yamal waving the Palestinian flag on the open-top bus that toured the streets of Barcelona quickly went viral and sparked intense debate, especially after the LaLiga victory was celebrated on a massive scale on Monday. When asked about the incident at the press conference ahead of the match against Alavés — a game for which the player is unavailable due to injury — Flick revealed that he spoke directly with the young player: “I normally don’t like that much, I spoke with him, we have to consider what people expect from us, but he is of age, he is 18 years old, it’s his decision.”
The Barcelona coach, who recently lost his father on the day of the title celebration, took the opportunity to reflect emotionally on the season. “It was very emotional to see tears in people’s eyes during the celebration. The first thing we have to do is make people happy. And I am proud of that and I told the players, because it was a difficult season due to injuries,” Flick confessed, highlighting the challenges the team faced throughout the year.
The German also highlighted the resilience of the squad in the face of key player absences at crucial moments: “There were key players who were unavailable at times, who came in and out, like Lamine, Pedri, Raphinha, Frenkie… And it’s incredible the season we’ve had and how we’ve improved in the last two months in attack and defense. It was evident against Real. That’s why we won LaLiga. We are the team with the fewest goals conceded and no one expected that.”
In the midst of the storm, good news for Barcelona fans: Flick confirmed that he will extend his contract with Barcelona until 2028, with an additional year as an option. “I am very happy, both for myself and for giving my team the confidence to work for another one or two years. Many coaches would be happy to have a contract for 3, 4, or 5 years, but in this case, at Barça, it’s good to limit that and I appreciate it. We will continue until 2028 and we will see. If everything goes well, we will decide to stay for another year. The club has that right, I do too, and it is a good deal,” explained the coach.
Regarding the personal loss he experienced, Flick revealed that this difficult moment helped him realize that he is in the right place: “In recent days, it became very clear to me that I am in the right place. I am very grateful for everything they have given to me and my family, and I am ready for the next season. We have a great commitment ahead to work harder, reach the highest level, and win titles.”
With the season officially over, the coach’s focus now shifts to the big goal that remains: winning the Champions League. “Everyone has that incredible dream of winning the Champions. We will try again, and that’s all I can say. I am grateful that they have given me the confidence to work here for many more years,” concluded Flick, leaving a promise of determination and ambition for Barcelona’s upcoming challenges.
Lamine Yamal, the young Catalan talent, can now count on the support of his coach, although it has become clear that the club’s management prefers to keep politics off the pitch. The controversy is underway, and Barcelona is preparing for a new season where the emotions promise to be as intense as the battles on the field.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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