Barcelona manager Hansi Flick stated that Lamine Yamal's apparent anger after the win over Atletico Madrid stemmed from his inability to score a goal in the crucial La Liga fixture and was not linked to any off-field incidents. The 18-year-old Spanish forward was visibly unhappy in the closing moments of the match, refusing to celebrate with teammates when Robert Lewandowski scored the winner in the 87th minute on Saturday, raising questions about his demeanor.

Flick elaborated on Yamal's emotional state in a post-match press conference, highlighting the player's misfortune in key moments, such as hitting the post with a dinked effort in the first half and providing an open pass that Fermin Lopez failed to convert. The German coach said, "He gave it his all but was unlucky when it came to scoring or providing the final pass. In the end, everything is fine. Of course, he has emotion. This was the game, with emotion, but he's in the dressing room, and everything is good."

Yamal has recently been at the center of an Islamophobia controversy in Spanish football, after he condemned anti-Muslim chants during Spain's friendly match against Egypt. He issued a statement on Instagram calling the incident disrespectful and intolerable. However, according to Flick, Yamal's reaction following the Atletico victory is unrelated to this controversy and is solely focused on his on-field performance and lack of scoring luck.

Barcelona and Yamal will have another opportunity in the upcoming UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Atletico Madrid, where the young player aims to add to his season tally of 19 goals. Flick commented on the fixture, saying, "We have three days now to prepare for the next match. It's a very important one, and he (Yamal) will be in a better mood than after the game."

Source: www.aljazeera.com