Flick missing Yamal and looking for on-field connections

FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick admitted that his side is missing teenage winger Lamine Yamal as Barca prepares for Tuesday's Champions League tie at home to Brest, reported Xinhua.

Yamal has been struggling with a muscle problem and missed Saturday's 2-2 draw away to Celta Vigo and the 1-0 defeat away to Real Sociedad before the international break.

Some poor defending was a big factor in Saturday's draw, but speaking to the press on Monday, Flick stressed the importance 17-year-old Yamal has on his team.

"Lamine has a quality that allows you to control the ball, but also allows the opponent to give us more space. I think and hope that this is the last game he misses. I hope that on Saturday (at home to Las Palmas) he will be an option," commented Flick.

The coach was also asked about a dip in Barcelona's intensity, which has seen its high-pressing game be less effective in its last two matches.

"You have to be really well connected in both defense and attack; when we attack, we start from the back, but we have to pressure high up the pitch, because when we don't do that, our rivals know how to play past it," said Flick, who nevertheless denied his players were tired after a non-stop start to the campaign.

"It's not a question of our physical level, it is more a question of making mistakes. We can do things better with the ball and that is what we are focusing on. We are going to continue down our route and everyone is happy with that.

"This is a young team and maybe we haven't done things as well in recent games, but we will learn from it," he insisted.