‘I fully understand and I like it’ - Barcelona manager accepts Yamal’s angry reaction after being substituted

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick downplayed Lamine Yamal's visible frustration after the winger was substituted against Eintracht Frankfurt.

The La Liga giants secured a 2-1 victory in Tuesday's Champions League clash over German side Frankfurt. 

Flick's side was forced to work hard for the three points at Camp Nou after a sluggish start, with the hosts falling behind just 21 minutes in.

However, the Catalans demonstrated their resilience once again, with Jules Kounde scoring two goals, assisted by Marcus Rashford and Yamal, to turn the game around.

Flick defends Yamal's reaction

Yamal was taken off in the 89th minute for Roony Bardghji and appeared irritated as he walked off the pitch, muttering to himself on the way to the dugout.

In the post-match press conference, Flick calmly addressed Yamal's reaction, explaining that the substitution was a precautionary measure.

"We changed Lamine with a few minutes to go because he was booked and it was late," Flick stated. "If he was a bit annoyed, then I fully understand and I like it. I was a player too. It's fully acceptable, not a problem."

While the manager appreciates Yamal's competitive spirit, the yellow card he received—his third of the campaign—means he will be suspended for Barcelona's next Champions League fixture against Slavia Prague in January.

Flick also commented on his team's tendency to fall behind. "Really happy how we come back, but sometimes it would also be good to start well and score the first goal," he admitted. "It is what it is."

Despite his late substitution, Yamal made his mark on the game by setting a new Champions League record. 

His assist for Kounde's goal was his 14th goal involvement (seven goals, seven assists) in the competition, surpassing Kylian Mbappe's previous record of 13 for a player aged 18 or younger.