Flick will protect 'unbelievable' Yamal from outside noise

Hansi Flick will always protect "unbelievable" Lamine Yamal after he came under scrutiny for an angry reaction during Barcelona's win over Atletico Madrid at the weekend.

Barca secured a 2-1 victory over Atletico on Saturday to move seven points clear at the top of LaLiga with eight games to play, with Robert Lewandowski scoring an 87th-minute winner.

However, Yamal did not celebrate that goal and was seen still looking frustrated at full-time.

Local media reports suggested the teenager was upset by an exchange he had with coach Jose Ramon de la Fuente on the sidelines.

Flick brushed off any concerns over Yamal's behaviour, asking for the 18-year-old to not be put under a microscope as he continues to learn his trade.

"Lamine is an unbelievable player," Flick said when asked if Lamine's conversation with De la Fuente had been the source of his discontent.

"But he's only 18. And, of course, sometimes he's angry when I change him or maybe when he dribbles past four, five players and then shoots, and he misses [like against Atletico]. Sometimes it's for him also frustrating he didn't score this goal.

"He's emotional and [that's] good. I will always support him. He is a fantastic player, on the right way, and we are helping him to develop in the right space. It's not good to make this noise around everything he's doing.

"I know everyone is looking to him because he's a fantastic player. But he's only 18. Every one of us makes mistakes. I said [to him] you can [try things], no problem, I will always protect you.

"And on the pitch, he has to show everyone how good he is; that he will be one of the best, maybe the best player of the future."

Barcelona will face Atletico again in the Champions League quarter-finals, with the first leg taking place at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

Barca are unbeaten in their last 25 games against Atletico at Camp Nou across all competitions (W17 D8), with their last defeat coming in February 2006, when Atleti were managed by Pepe Murcia (1-3 defeat in LaLiga).

This will be the fifth meeting between the sides this season, with Barcelona coming out on top in three of those, including their last home match – a 3-0 win in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg, though they lost the tie 4-3 on aggregate.

Flick has the best win percentage by any manager with ten or more games in the Champions League (73.8% – 31/42), as well as the best win percentage in knockout-stage matches (min. 10 games) in the competition (70.6% – 12/17).

The Champions League is the only trophy Barcelona have not lifted during Flick's tenure so far, and he is determined to take his team one step closer against Atletico.

"It's different [to Saturday's game] because the Champions League is the best competition in the world," Flick added.

"Everyone wants to give their best. Everyone wants to win. It's a good opportunity for everyone to show that this week.

"We have our style and how we want to play. We have to focus on that. When we don't do that, when we don't press, for the opponent it's easier to find the right space."