Yamal has the level for Ballon d’Or despite Kane win, says Flick

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick says Lamine Yamal handled missing out on the Ballon d’Or with maturity, on the eve of the La Liga leaders’ home game against Alaves. Harry Kane took the award on Monday, with Yamal third behind him and Kylian Mbappe.

Barcelona arrive in a rare dip after winning their first 11 matches in all competitions. A 4-2 defeat at PSG in the Champions League on October 21 was followed days later by a 2-1 home loss to a Mbappe-inspired Real Madrid in La Liga.

Barcelona remain two points clear at the top of La Liga and Flick expects a stern examination from Alaves on Saturday.

“Alaves are a team that know how to defend well, but we’re Barca and we want to show our best version,” he said.

The 19-year-old had a La Liga title and a World Cup with Spain to his name, yet Flick has no doubt about his standing.

“Harry Kane deserved it, but you already know what I think about Lamine,” Flick said on Friday.

“He’s at the level required to win this award,” he added, before describing how the teenager had handled the days since Monday’s vote. “I’m very proud of Lamine. He reacted very well and was very focused in training,” Flick said.

Flick admitted that he dislikes losing but called the campaign “a long road”. “We have to deal with it. We could have won, but we have to accept defeat and learn from it,” he said of the two recent defeats.