Hansi Flick lashes out at the Spanish national team over their handling of Lamine Yamal.

Barcelona / Sant Joan DespíIt's hard to take Hansi Flick's smile off his face, but the Spanish national team has managed to do just that. Lamine Yamal didn't take to the pitch for training this Saturday, and in the press conference prior to Sunday's match against Valencia (9 p.m.), the German coach confirmed that the Barça star would be out. "He went to the Spanish national team with discomfort. He played both games, 73 and 79 minutes, even though the team was winning by a landslide," Flick insisted, "with painkillers. He didn't train, but he played. I don't think this is the way to take care of the players. I'm very sad, I'm very sad, I'm very sad, I'm very sad." Barça.

Lamine Yamal is suffering from discomfort in his pubic bone, according to the club, and will be out this Sunday against Valencia. At this point, he is also doubtful for Thursday's Champions League opener at Newcastle. Flick lamented the lack of communication with Luis de la Fuente, the Spanish national team coach. "I don't speak Spanish, and he doesn't speak much English either. There are several of our players with Spain, so communication should be more fluid," said the Barça coach. The positive note is Marc Bernal's return to the squad after a year.

The Excel spreadsheet remains a dead letter.

Hansi Flick's excellency is primarily intended to avoid unexpected adventures, but sometimes it's not enough to provide refuge from the dramatic weight of life. Spain's handling of Lamine Yamal has deeply irked him. His distribution of efforts among the Barça players is rendered meaningless when the number 10, Gavi, Balde, and Frenkie de Jong suffer serious setbacks with the national teams or in training at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.

Gavi is on indefinite leave (waiting to finally be able to avoid having an arthroscopy) after injuring his right knee, and Balde has a hamstring injury in his left leg that will keep him out of action until the end of September. Flick's excellent performance also had little effect on Frenkie de Jong, who returned early from the Dutch national team training camp due to an injury to the external obturator muscle in his right leg.

A time for the less common.

For the first time this season, it will be clear whether Barça's depth in the squad can keep the foundations stable underground. Especially in midfield. The absences of Gavi and Frenkie de Jong will have Flick thanking the Black Madonna. so that neither Fermín López nor Marc Casadó have packed their bags in exchange for money to improve the club's financial situationBoth have been bought into the starting lineup against Valencia in a midfield where the only guaranteed starting spot is Pedri, who has continued to deliver magic for the Spanish national team during this break. The other alternative is Dani Olmo. With Lamine Yamal out, Flick will have to reshuffle his attack and introduce changes from recent matches, such as Rashford and Lewandowski. The simpler solution is to replace Balde at left back. Gerard Martín, who could not be registered until the third matchday of the league, can now get ready to run the touchline at the Johan Cruyff Stadium.

Because this return to La Liga will take place in a place where Barça's men's first team has never played an official match in its history: the Johan Cruyff Stadium. As a first step toward crushing egos, it's not a bad idea to play a Primera División match in a venue with only 6,000 spectators. But Flick will need more resources to rectify the attitudes that so displeased Vallecas, which he expressed first in the locker room and then in the press conference that same night. "Egos kill success," he said. after drawing against Rayo Vallecano in a disconcerting performance by Barça.

Although the international break has softened the jeers from the German coach, this Sunday will be a good time to see if Flick is keen to take his toll on some players. There's no shortage of precedents. Just ask Iñaki Peña. The Barça dressing room, like Carolina Durante, has several demons in its head at the start of the season. Controversial birthday parties, the departure of Iñigo Martínez, the dangers of other departures, injuries, and tense relationships between some players have all added to the confusion. the uncertainty of when we will be able to return to the Camp Nou to play home matchesLuckily, Barça has Flick. And Flick, for the moment, is contributing more than Barça's demons.