Messi praises Flick’s young guns as Barcelona visits Celta without Yamal
Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick gestures during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Barcelona at the Anoeta stadium, in San Sebastian, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Miguel Oses]
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Hansi Flick has Barcelona clicking again, and the best player in the club’s history has taken notice. Lionel Messi praised Flick’s willingness to give Barcelona’s youth players chances to play. That bet has paid off handsomely and invigorated a Barcelona that is playing its best soccer since Messi’s tearful exit three years ago. Messi says that he is “proud” to see how his former club is now playing with so many homegrown talents like Lamine Yamal. Barcelona visits Celta Vigo on Saturday leading the Spanish league by six points over Madrid. Yamal will miss the Celta match due to a right-ankle injury.
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