Hansi Flick Braces for the Unstoppable Lamine Yamal Problem He Can't Escape

Despite Lamine Yamal's indispensable role on Barcelona's right wing, coach Hansi Flick acknowledges the need to manage the 19-year-old's workload over the long term — he just hasn't figured out the right moment to do so.

The talented winger has featured in every Barça fixture this season, completing the full 90 minutes in eight of those outings and playing a pivotal role in the club's record-breaking run of 10 straight victories, racking up eight goals and nine assists along the way.

"Lamine is an exceptional talent, and I'm aware we need to manage his playing time, but what matters most to him is being out there enjoying his football, and right now that's exactly what's happening — I don't want to disrupt that," Flick said to the press.

Barcelona face their biggest test of the campaign, heading to Seville on Saturday with a shot at making the history books. A victory over Real Betis would make them only the second side in history to win their first nine matches of a La Liga season.

Despite Barcelona's world-class form, Manuel Pellegrini's outfit will be no pushover. Real Betis have been in excellent shape, suffering just one defeat in 2026–27. Yamal's continued brilliance will be essential to any winning effort — raising the question of when exactly he'll be given a breather.

Barcelona's Upcoming Schedule

A hamstring problem last April forced Yamal to miss the remainder of the 2025–26 campaign and nearly jeopardized his participation with Spain at the 2026 World Cup that summer, with his minutes carefully restricted during the group stage. The setback hampered his form for months as he worked his way back to full fitness.

Flick will be keen to prevent any recurrence of that overuse injury, yet he will still need his talisman available in the weeks ahead. Following the Real Betis encounter, Barcelona's fixture list only gets more demanding.

A Champions League showdown with two-time winners Paris Saint-Germain looms large. Barcelona travel to Parc des Princes on Tuesday to take on the side that humbled Premier League frontrunners Manchester City in midweek.

That is followed by the season's first Clásico, a high-stakes encounter with Real Madrid at Camp Nou that could significantly shape the La Liga title race.

As a result, Yamal may not see any meaningful rest until late in the month when Barcelona welcome Deportivo Alavés. The Spanish club currently occupies seventh place in the table but handed the Catalans a 1–0 defeat in their last meeting back in May.

Barcelona's Upcoming Schedule