Barca boss Flick insists Lamine getting back to his best after slow start to season

[p]The 19-year-old struggled in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barca[/a]'s first match of the season at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/elche/4jl02tPF/"]Elche[/a] but improved against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ath-bilbao/IP5zl0cJ/"]Athletic Club[/a] in the second, albeit without finding the net.[/p][p]Flick said the Spanish World Cup winner is returning to his best, which [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lamine-yamal/lAt3vEub/"]Lamine[/a] has not hit since suffering a hamstring injury in April.[/p][p]The winger returned at the World Cup but, despite Spain's success, had limited individual impact at the tournament.[/p][p][b]"I know everyone is worried about how Lamine is, how he is doing. And of course, look at his situation, he played a World Cup after a huge injury,"[/b] Flick told reporters Sunday.[/p][p][b]"Now he's coming back after three weeks' holiday... and also the first game maybe was not his best game.[/b][/p][p][b]"But I said this, I was very happy that he started the game and he worked for the team."[/b][/p][image alt="Lamine Yamal's recent player ratings" id="e835a689-7303-4d85-a6ed-4e3af3c8f236" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="a1e0ac3e-1fc2-4396-b118-13fbca6d2118" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]Lamine disappointed in the first half [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ath-bilbao-IP5zl0cJ/barcelona-SKbpVP5K/?mid=0Atuqenl"]against Athletic on Thursday[/a] but stepped up a gear after the break.[/p][p][b]"He played 90 minutes against Bilbao. And for him at the moment, it's also good to (have) 90 minutes on the pitch,"[/b] continued Flick.[/p][p][b]"We saw him in some situations really on this top level. And now, you couldn't see this in the training (session) today, but I saw it, and it was excellent.[/b][/p][p][b]"Everyone loves Lamine, and he's in a good way. And we have to support him, and we do that."[/b][/p][embed guid="53f0e180-53d6-4012-9a7d-f4623aa35918" url="https://x.com/FCBarcelona/status/2094023112887050628" social-type="twitter" /][p]Lamine seemed in a bad mood after the game against Elche but happier in training ahead of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/barcelona-SKbpVP5K/rayo-vallecano-8bcjFy6O/?mid=GvI6ON5c"]the Rayo clash.[/a][/p][p][b]"Of course, it's always good when the players are smiling, but it's not every day the same day,"[/b] added Flick. "I'm also not smiling every day - it's like that."[/p][p]Barca won both of their opening fixtures with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raphinha/xtBsDPam/"]Raphinha[/a] playing as a makeshift number nine, with the champions unable to land top target [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alvarez-julian/bBHauDIC/"]Julian Alvarez[/a] from Atletico Madrid.[/p][p][b]"Of course I'm happy with my team, (sporting director) Deco is working on that to strengthen the team. We don't have pressure,"[/b] said Flick, reiterating he is content with the players available to him if Barca don't sign a new striker.[/p][infobox id="ec74e862-e221-4cca-911d-224836e2362d" /]