Hansi Flick praises Lamine Yamal after Ballon d'Or third-place finish

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has praised the professional attitude of Lamine Yamal following the player's third-place finish in the Ballon d'Or voting. Yamal, who finished behind winner Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé, also received the Kopa Trophy for the best player under 21.

Flick noted that the 19-year-old has remained highly focused during training despite the individual disappointment, describing his mindset as that of a champion. The coach emphasized that Yamal's maturity is a significant benefit to the team.

Addressing the broader team situation, Flick expressed confidence in Barcelona's ability to recover from recent consecutive losses to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. Despite facing defensive challenges due to multiple injuries, the manager maintains that the team's position at the top of La Liga is stable and that the season remains long.