BARCELONA:

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Saturday he will "protect" teenage star Lamine Yamal after recent criticism.

The 18-year-old winger struggled in the Clasico last weekend as champions Barca fell to a defeat that left them five points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

Yamal was also in the spotlight for comments before the game insinuating Madrid "steal (and) complain" which riled Los Blancos fans and a big part of the Spanish media.

"We speak with him... we are very honest together, he with me and I with him and this is the best way," Flick told a news conference ahead of Barca's match against Elche on Sunday in La Liga.

"I will always protect him and support him. He's a fantastic player, fantastic guy, he's very young and we will go on this way."

Yamal has been struggli

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