The Spanish international is hampered by a groin injury which prevents him from being at his best.
During the first two matches, Lamine Yamal gave a glimpse of the continuation of his imperial form at the end of last season. However, a groin injury has troubled him ever since, forcing him to miss five games between September and October. Even when he plays, Lamine Yamal still seems far from his level at the start of the year.
FC Barcelona wants Lamine Yamal to spend more time on the bench.
The problem is that there is no simple treatment or recovery period for Lamine Yamal’s injury, and therefore it is difficult to predict his return to the top. Marca reports that FC Barcelona have decided that Lamine Yamal should spend more time on the bench. The club’s medical staff told him that for a complete and optimal recovery, he needed to spend more time on the bench.
Lamine Yamal will benefit from a longer rest.
This means not only that he will come off at the end of the match, as he has done since the international break in October, but also that he will agree not to play every match. After such an exceptional season, Lamine Yamal will naturally have difficulty accepting a less important role than the one he occupied at the end of last season.
Alternatives for Hansi Flick
One of Flick’s problems is that he does not have a natural replacement capable of coming on in crucial matches. Roony Bardghji would be the most obvious candidate, but the Swedish striker still lacks experience and maturity, even if he has shown good things at times. Marcus Rashford could become a more regular starter on the right wing, where he has already been used on several occasions. Once Raphinha recovers from his injury, he will also be able to play on the right, while Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo can play there if needed.
