Flick: Yamal deserves the Ballon d'Or

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick expressed his satisfaction with his team's performance in their opening European match against Feyenoord, while emphasizing the need to continue working to improve their play and certain aspects, despite the strong start and 5-1 victory. Flick was pleased with the atmosphere within the team and the performances of several players, particularly Brazilian Rafinha and young Spaniard Lamine Yamal, who scored a goal while wearing the captain's armband . Regarding Yamal's potential Ballon d'Or win, the German coach said, "Of course, he's my player. He's a special and fantastic player, and he deserves the award." He also praised Rafinha's performance, stating that he had a "great game," and indicated that both players deserve to be in contention for the award, but stressed that the decision ultimately rests with the team . Flick explained that Barcelona's exceptional level of performance stems from hard work and consistency, coupled with the players' high quality. He stated, "We work very hard and diligently, and we have great quality on the ball." However, he emphasized that the team "can improve, and it must," stressing that the next phase requires maintaining the same level of training intensity and quality, while analyzing areas that need development . The German coach praised the strength of Barcelona's squad, explaining that the team possesses outstanding players in every position, allowing him to make changes without compromising the team's identity or playing style . Flick said, "There is great quality in the squad, and in every position, there is high quality. We make changes, yet the team continues to play with the same philosophy we want to implement." He added, "I like what I see, but there are things that need improvement, and that's what we're working on in training, through analysis and trying to reach a higher level. I'm very happy, but we can always improve." Flick spoke about his team's ability to handle different situations during matches, stressing that the coaching staff has many tactical solutions, whether when transitioning to attack or when there is a need to control the course of the game. He also praised the team's ability to score from direct free kicks, considering that to be "a great thing".