Manager Hansi Flick lavished praise on Barcelona's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal after the Spanish international scored a brace to help the La Liga leaders secure a 4-1 victory over Girona on Sunday, marking their fifth consecutive win to kick off the season.
Yamal, who captivated attention as he contributed to Spain's fourth European Championship title win in July, netted twice in the first half before Dani Olmo and Pedri sealed the win, with Flick's side maintaining their unblemished start to the league campaign.
"I'm extremely pleased with Lamine's two goals; he's very young but truly remarkable, a game-changer at such a tender age," Flick remarked to Movistar Plus. "Having him is crucial for us not only due to his skill but also because he presses effectively high up the pitch. He blends talent with pressure, which is immensely valuable for us. He's exceptional."
It was a challenging match, with Girona playing well, but we started strongly and fully deserved the win." Hansi Flick's Barcelona lead the La Liga table with 15 points, four ahead of Real Madrid and Villarreal. Last season's surprise package, Girona, are currently seventh with seven points.
Barca avenged their two defeats to Girona last season, both ending in 4-2 losses. It was a commanding performance by the Catalan giants, whose relentless high press proved too much for the home side to handle.
Now, Barca will aim to carry their domestic momentum into the Champions League, where they will face Monaco away on Thursday.
"We've trained diligently for this and need to maintain our momentum. This past week we've prepared thoroughly, but we do so for every game because we always strive to win. We're in a good phase and can't afford to stop," Flick said.
"It won't be easy against Monaco, but we're taking it one game at a time and are genuinely excited. We're all eagerly anticipating it."
