Flick talks Lamine, Gavi, Balde, Ballon d’Or ahead of Barcelona vs Racing Club

Flick talks Lamine, Gavi, Balde, Ballon d’Or ahead of Barcelona vs Racing Club Hansi Flick has given Lamine Yamal his strongest possible backing in the Ballon d’Or race, with the Barcelona manager making clear that he has no issue with his young star publicly targeting the prize. Yamal has openly stated his ambition to win the individual award , and Flick believes that self-belief is helping fuel the winger’s outstanding form. The Barça boss also stressed that collective honours remain more important to him. “He’s a young player. He’s sincere and self-assured, and I like that. He also shows that confidence on the pitch.  “We all want him to keep playing the way he is, and that stems from his self-belief.” Flick sees Yamal reaching another level The manager has noticed a particularly sharp improvement in Yamal’s finishing, with his confidence in front of goal becoming increasingly obvious during matches. “He now knows he can score, and you can see that in matches; he’s getting more chances to score. His confidence in front of goal is spectacular.  Flick backs Lamine Yamal for Ballon d’Or. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) “He’s in fantastic form, playing at a very high level. I always say this: when you see him in training, you know what’s going to happen in the match. And I really value what I’m seeing in training at the moment.” Flick is also prepared to support Yamal’s Ballon d’Or campaign , regardless of how other contenders perform. “And why shouldn’t we? He’s our player, and we support our players. It’s always been that way.  “I support the players who show confidence, and right now we’re playing well.  “They’re our players; I see what they bring to the table every day in training. And, of course, I can support them without any problem.” Alejandro Balde must fight for his place While Yamal’s position is secure, Alejandro Balde is facing a different reality . Flick admitted the defender is unhappy with his lack of minutes but praised the way he has responded. “He’s not happy about not playing, about not getting any playing time. He was used to being a key player and it’s only natural that he’s not happy.” The competition extends across the squad, with Flick highlighting the emergence of Xavi Espart as another factor affecting Balde’s opportunities. “He’s handling it well. I’m not unhappy with him at all. Everyone is competing for a place, and we always have players who can play in that position. But managing that is the hardest part. “ Flick reveals Alejandro Balde is not happy with his situation. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images) Flick also underlined why Gavi remains important despite the midfielder having had to fight his way back into the picture. “All our footballers are important to us; every player in the squad is vital and we need them all. Gavi is very ambitious and always wants to play.  “He started the first match, then got injured, and came back afterwards. The team is performing well, but we need everyone.  “The most important thing is that everyone knows we need them and that we need them to stay positive. He’s training well and that’s what I want to see from him,” said the manager. Barcelona dreaming of Camp Nou final Flick also welcomed the news that Spotify Camp Nou will host the 2029 Champions League final , although his immediate objective remains winning every match. “Our dream is to win the Champions League before then. They’ve mentioned it to us. It’s good news for the club. This stadium, when it’s finished, is going to be incredible.” Asked whether he would still be Barcelona manager for that final, Flick offered no guarantees:  “I’ll be there 100 per cent. Definitely. As a manager or as a fan, we’ll see. You never know what might happen; anything can happen in football.  “I’m enjoying myself in Barcelona, managing Barça. But you never know what might happen.” Source: AS