Coach Hansi Flick criticizes Lamine Yamal’s FC Barcelona despite 3-0 La Liga debut win vs. Mallorca

FC Barcelona opened the 2025-26 La Liga season with a convincing 3-0 victory over RCD Mallorca, highlighted by Lamine Yamal scoring his first official goal wearing the club’s iconic No. 10 shirt. But despite the result, head coach Hansi Flick criticized his players’ performance and made his frustration clear.

Barcelona entered as heavy favorites at Son Moix, but the first half brought plenty of controversy. Ferran Torres’ strike to make it 2-0 was followed by drama with the referee, who sent off Manu Morlanes in the 33rd minute and Vedat Muriqi in the 38th. Mallorca went into halftime down two goals and reduced to nine men.

Speaking to Movistar+ after the match, Flick admitted he was far from satisfied with what he saw in the second half. “I didn’t like the match. They’re three important points, but I didn’t like the match. After going 2-0 up and with the two red cards, the team played at 50%. I have to talk about it, I didn’t like it,” the coach candidly stated.

Flick doubled down on the lack of intensity shown after the break: “Our second half was bad. We have to control the ball and the game, but we also have to score. This is what I can say: we can’t play at 50 or 60% against nine players. We need to be more angry. We need to show that we want to win, even if it seems easy.“

Barcelona dominated possession with 73% in the second half compared to Mallorca‘s 27%, but despite their two-man advantage, only Yamal’s stoppage-time strike added to the scoreline, a performance that clearly frustrated the German coach.

Lamine Yamal’s official debut as No. 10

Making his first competitive appearance in Barcelona’s famous No. 10 shirt, Lamine Yamal lived up to the hype as the best player on the pitch. The 18-year-old winger delivered a pinpoint cross for Raphinha’s opener and capped the night by finding the net himself in stoppage time.

Asked about Yamal’s performance, Flick switched from criticism to praise: “I told Lamine Yamal to help the team. He’s a special player and everyone in the world is watching him. From what I see in training, he is motivated, and in matches, he plays, fights, and defends. I am happy for him.”