BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick lashed out at the Spanish national team on Saturday after Lamine Yamal was ruled out of his team’s La Liga clash against Valencia.
The 18-year-old winger did not train with the Spanish champions because of a groin issue ahead of the game on Sunday, and is also a doubt to face Newcastle in the Champions League on Thursday.
Yamal played twice for Spain in 2026 World Cup qualifying wins against Bulgaria and Turkiye last week.
“He will not be available — for me it’s a pity. He went to the national team with pain, he did not train, he got painkillers for playing,” Flick told a news conference Saturday.
“In every match they were three goals (or more) ahead, he played 79 and 73 minutes. Between the matches he didn’t train. This is not taking care about players.
“Spain have best team in the world best players in the world. In every position they are unbelievably good. Maybe also when we want to take care of players, young players, it’s like that, doing this... I’m really sad about this.”
Flick said he had spoken briefly to Spain coach Luis de la Fuente via text message but their communication could be improved.
“Maybe it’s all about my Spanish not (being) good, his English not good. Communication... there could be better,” continued former Germany coach Flick.
“I was also on this side, (coaching a) national team, and I know how hard this job can be, but the communication with the clubs was always good.”
Flick confirmed Frenkie de Jong would also miss the Valencia game but midfielder Marc Bernal is fit to return to the squad for the first time since suffering a long-term knee injury nine months ago.
Barcelona will play the game at their 6,000 capacity Johan Cruyff training ground because the Spotify Camp Nou is not yet ready to be reopened.
“I spoke with the players, the captains, and they said it will not affect us,” said Flick.
“When we play at the new Camp Nou, 105,000 (capacity), maybe it’s a little bit different to playing at the Johan.
“As I said before it’s not an excuse, I will not use it, Valencia also has to play in this stadium.”
Barca’s Flick blasts Spain over Yamal injury issue
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Barca’s Flick blasts Spain over Yamal injury issue
- Barcelona coach Hansi Flick lashed out at the Spanish national team on Saturday after Lamine Yamal was ruled out of his team’s La Liga clash against Valencia
Undefeated boxing great Terence Crawford announces retirement
- Crawford, (42-0, 31 knockouts), retires as the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO supermiddleweight champion after defeating Alvarez by unanimous decision in a masterful performance
- Crawford’s career straddled three different decades, with the southpaw making his professional debut in 2008 and rapidly becoming one of boxing’s brightest talents
LOS ANGELES: Undefeated world super middleweight champion Terence Crawford announced his retirement from boxing on Tuesday, hanging up his gloves three months after a career-defining victory over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
The 38-year-old from Nebraska, who dominated Mexican legend Alvarez in Las Vegas in September to claim the undisputed super middleweight crown, announced his decision in a video posted on social media.
“I’m stepping away from competition, not because I’m done fighting, but because I’ve won a different type of battle,” Crawford said in his retirement message. “The one where you walk away on your own terms.”
Crawford, (42-0, 31 knockouts), retires as the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO supermiddleweight champion after defeating Alvarez by unanimous decision in a masterful performance.
Crawford had also held the WBC super middleweight belt, but was stripped of it earlier this month following a dispute over sanctioning fees.
Speaking in his video, Crawford said his career had been driven by a desire to keep “proving everyone wrong.”
“Every fighter knows this moment will come, we just never know when,” Crawford said.
“I spent my whole life chasing something. Not belts, not money, not headlines. But that feeling, the one you get when the world doubts you but you keep showing up and you keep proving everyone wrong.”
“I fought for my family. I fought for my city. I fought for the kid I used to be, the one who had nothing but a dream and a pair of gloves. And I did it all my way. I gave this sport every breath I had.”
Crawford’s career straddled three different decades, with the southpaw making his professional debut in 2008 and rapidly becoming one of boxing’s brightest talents.
He won his maiden world title, the WBO lightweight crown, with victory over Scotland’s Ricky Burns in 2014.
Crawford won 18 world titles in five weight classes, culminating in his win over Alvarez.
He retires having never been officially knocked down in a fight.
All of his 42 victories have come by way of unanimous decision or stoppage, with no judge ever scoring in favor of an opponent during his career.
