FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has urged Lamine Yamal to put their tough loss to Chelsea behind him. He wants Yamal to deliver a strong performance against Alaves in LaLiga on Saturday.

Barcelona suffered a 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. This Champions League match also saw Ronald Araujo get a red card.

Lamine Yamal had a difficult night. He managed only one shot on goal. Yamal completed four of his ten dribbles. Still, he won 12 of his 17 duels. He also created more chances than any teammate.

The 18-year-old struggled against Marc Cucurella. The Spanish defender kept Yamal very quiet. Yamal was replaced in the 80th minute.

Ahead of the Alaves match, Flick encouraged the teenager. He told Yamal to quickly move past the setback. Yamal should now display his usual quality.

Flick’s Message to Yamal

“Lamine’s mood is good,” Flick stated. “Many players are unhappy when substituted. I was a player myself. Sometimes, I didn’t react well. But that is normal. It is emotion.”

“Cucurella is one of the best left-backs globally,” he added. “He is not an easy player to face. He is very smart and intelligent defensively.”

“Lamine’s next step is clear. He must show that the Chelsea match is behind him. He needs to forget it. Alaves is now crucial. He must deliver his best performance and level.”

Barcelona Squad Updates

Barcelona will miss Fermin Lopez. He is out for two weeks with a calf injury. Araujo is also likely to miss the game. He has a stomach bug.

There is good news for Flick. Pedri is set to return to action. Raphinha and Marcus Rashford could also start. They both featured from the bench against Chelsea.

Flick Praises Raphinha’s Impact

“I have really missed Rapha,” Flick stated. “I see him as a crucial team member. He fits our philosophy and playing style. He offers a big positive when we defend. He helps when we start pressing. Also, in transition, he is incredibly good.”

“He scored many goals last season for a reason. He is eager to prove his quality again this season. Last season was fantastic for him.”

Alaves’ Recent Form

Alaves visit Barcelona ranked 14th in the league. They suffered narrow losses to Celta Vigo and Girona recently. Their only win in the last five league games was a 2-1 triumph over Espanyol this month.