Barcelona manager Hansi Flick expressed his happiness at seeing Lamine Yamal back in form but cautioned that he must continue to manage his groin injury. The teenager inspired a 3-3 Champions League draw with Club Brugge on Wednesday.
After weeks of dealing with a persistent groin injury, the 18-year-old built on his LaLiga performance from Sunday, marking his first league goal since August, with another lively display in Belgium. Barca equalized three times to secure a point.
Nicolo Tresoldi and Ferran Torres exchanged early goals, but Carlos Forbs restored the hosts’ lead before halftime. Yamal leveled the score a minute after the hour mark with a composed finish following a superb defense-splitting run.
“I’m happy that Lamine is back at this level. But we don’t know what will happen tomorrow or next Sunday. The important thing is that he manages his situation, because it’s not easy,” the German manager said.
“He has to be really focused on how he trains, and also on the treatments, and hopefully the pain goes away.”
Receiving a pass outside the penalty area, Yamal surged through two defenders, laid the ball off to Fermin Lopez, and continued his run, collecting Lopez’s deft back-heel pass before slotting in from close range.
“I try to do the best I can. The move went really quick and Fermin left me with the ball with a nice flick, and I finished it,” Yamal said after the game.
However, Brugge winger Forbs put the hosts ahead again in the 63rd minute, and later Yamal’s other effort was diverted in off Christos Tzolis, sealing a 3-3 draw through an own goal.
Yamal added that speculation surrounding his groin injury and suggestions it had affected his state of mind had been overblown and fueled by false reports.
“A lot has been said about my pubalgia, that I was sad, but it was all lies. I’ve been the same as always, very happy, focused on my work, trying to get back to training and play at this level, which is where I feel best and enjoy myself the most,” he said.
Yamal’s goal drew comparisons with Barcelona great Lionel Messi, but the Spain international said he was not getting carried away with the praise.
“Messi has scored thousands of goals like that. I have to make my own way and hope to score many more goals like that,” he added.
