Barcelona coach Hansi Flick criticized the Spanish national team on Saturday, after Lamine Yamal was ruled out of his team’s La Liga match against Valencia.
The 18-year-old winger did not train with the Spanish champions due to a groin ailment ahead of Sunday’s encounter, and he is also a doubt for Thursday’s Champions League match against Newcastle.
Yamal appeared twice for Spain in the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Bulgaria and Turkey last week.
“He will not be available—for me it’s a pity. He went to the national team with pain; he did not train, and he got painkillers for playing.
“In every match they were three goals (or more) ahead; he played 79 and 73 minutes. Between the matches he didn’t train. This is not taking care of players.
“Spain has the best team in the world, the best players in the world. In every position they are unbelievably good.
Maybe also when we want to take care of players, young players, it’s like that, doing this… I’m really sad about this,” Flick told a news conference Saturday.
Flick stated that he had spoken briefly to Spain coach Luis de la Fuente via text message, but their communication could be improved.
“Maybe it’s all about my Spanish not being good and his English not being good. Communication… there could be better,” continued former Germany coach Flick.
“I was also on this side, (coaching a) national team, and I know how hard this job can be, but the communication with the clubs was always good.”
Flick announced that Frenkie de Jong would also miss the Valencia game, although midfielder Marc Bernal is ready to rejoin the squad for the first time since sustaining a long-term knee injury nine months ago.
Barcelona will play the game at their 6,000-person Johan Cruyff training site because the Spotify Camp Nou is not yet ready to reopen.
“I spoke with the players and the captains, and they said it will not affect us.
“When we play at the new Camp Nou, 105,000 (capacity), maybe it’s a little bit different from playing at the Johan.
“As I said before, it’s not an excuse; I will not use it. Valencia also has to play in this stadium,” he said.
