FC Barcelona is experiencing internal disputes between management and German coach Hansi Flick, due to the lack of discipline of team star Lamine Yamal.
The Catalan newspaper “Nacional” reported that Flick, who is known for his precision and discipline, disapproved of Yamal’s “letting go” and that the club’s management intervened in his decisions to protect the 18-year-old player.
The crisis began when Yamal was late for the training session that preceded the French match against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, which the Blaugrana lost 1-2 at the beginning of this October.
The delay angered Flick, who is obsessed with discipline and punctuality, and he considered it sufficient to take disciplinary action against Yamal, who ranked second in the Golden Ball award for the best player in the world.
The coach reprimanded Yamal, assuring him that “the rules apply to everyone, regardless of age or talent.”
Flick decided to exclude Yamal from the starting lineup for the match as punishment for his tardiness, but the intervention of the club management prevented that.
Alejandro Echevarria, who is close to club president Joan Laporta, intervened and asked the club’s sporting director, former Portuguese star Deco, to urge the coach to reconsider his decision.
After pressure, the coach decided, reluctantly, to include Yamal as a starter in the match, but he became angry and considered this an interference in his authority.
But those close to Yamal denied the lack of discipline attributed to him, and confirmed that he was not late, and that what happened was merely a media exaggeration.
Despite the conflicting stories, Flake believes that “no one is above the regime.”
Since joining Barcelona, Flick has followed a strict approach to discipline, explaining that “talent without commitment and respect is not worth anything.”
He had previously punished players such as Yamal, Rafinha, Jules Kounde, Hector Forte and Iñaki Peña, for their lack of discipline.
But what angered Flick the most was the attempt of some officials to influence his decisions, and sources close to him said that he asked the club management to fully respect his authority.
