Assistant Hansi Flick praises Yamal despite Barca’s heavy loss to Real

Marcus Sorg, assistant to coach Hansi Flick, praised Lamine Yamal’s efforts even though Barcelona lost to Real Madrid.

Barcelona suffered a defeat on Real Madrid’s home ground in the 10th round of La Liga. Notably, head coach Hansi Flick was absent from the bench due to a suspension. Assistant Marcus Sorg took charge of the match, but despite his best efforts, the German tactician could not secure at least a point for the team.

After the match, coach Marcus Sorg shared his thoughts on Lamine Yamal, the player who sparked much debate before, during, and after the 90 minutes at the Bernabeu. Sorg acknowledged that Yamal had a tough day on the pitch as the 2007-born prospect faced not only jeers but also intense challenges from Real Madrid players.

He stated: "Today was definitely not easy for Lamine. We talked to him at halftime about needing to create more one-on-one chances, but we didn’t manage many in the first half, and the second half was similar.

They defended very well, and we had to accept that. I think he gave his all, but sometimes defenders play effectively, and we have to acknowledge that too."

Additionally, Barcelona’s assistant coach admitted that the intense atmosphere at the Bernabeu somewhat affected Yamal’s performance.

He explained: "Perhaps a little. He is still learning how to handle the crowd, the cheers, and the boos, and this is part of the development process, which I consider normal. He usually plays motivated and well, but today was far from easy."

The German tactician was asked extensively about the post-match altercation between the two teams, involving Yamal. However, Sorg confessed he was unsure who started the incident.

He added: "Honestly, I don’t know who initiated it. In the end, many people stood between the two benches, and shouting erupted everywhere. But I think we have to accept that and focus on the match."

Returning to the match events, from the opening minutes, Real Madrid created two dangerous chances, but a penalty was not awarded and Mbappe’s spectacular goal was disallowed for offside. Nevertheless, the French striker opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a precise finish inside the box. The game became thrilling when Fermin Lopez equalized at 1-1 in the 38th minute, but five minutes later, Jude Bellingham restored Real Madrid’s lead.

In the second half, the home team was awarded a penalty and had a chance to extend their lead, but Mbappe failed to beat goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. In the remaining minutes, both teams played offensively, but no further goals were scored, and Barcelona accepted a 1-2 loss.

Related articles

Real and Barca clash fiercely, Vinicius ‘attacks’ Yamal Vinicius and his Real Madrid teammates were involved in a scuffle after their victory over Barcelona. See more