Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has again hit back at Barcelona boss Hansi Flick after the German accused the national team of mismanaging Lamine Yamal’s fitness. The teenager’s groin injury has sparked a public row between club and country, with De la Fuente insisting “everyone is condemned by their actions” as tensions escalate ahead of El Clasico.
Flick vs De la Fuente: Tensions boil over
The dispute began when Yamal returned to Barcelona from international duty in September with a groin injury. Flick openly accused Spain of “not taking care of the player”, suggesting that national team staff ignored his condition and overused him despite knowing he was in discomfort. His comments quickly went viral in Spain and Germany.
La Roja's manager responded strongly during an appearance on , criticising Flick for forgetting his own past as a national team manager. He doubled down, saying: “everyone is condemned by their actions”, suggesting that the 60-year-old should reflect before criticising others.
AdvertisementAFPDe la Fuente responds to Barcelona boss
Flick was unable to hide his frustration: "He went to the national team with pain and did not train. They gave him painkillers to play. They had at least a three-goal lead in each match, and he played 73 and 79 minutes, and between matches, he couldn’t train. That’s not taking care of the player. I think the Spanish national team has a great team, the best players in the world, but they haven't looked after their players and I’m very sad about this situation."
De la Fuente did not hold back when asked about Flick’s criticism, he said: "I didn't understand it, because he was also a national team coach. In the end, everyone is condemned by their actions. I also sometimes don't understand the clubs' position. All footballers want to be in the national team.
"There's a schedule where you know the number of matches you're going to be able to play. What's not fair is complaining in November and then saying everything's fine when the year starts again. There are a lot of matches, and for footballers, that's a challenge."
Records, pressure and Spain’s 2026 World Cup dream
Away from the drama, Spain are on the verge of history. Their 4-0 win over Bulgaria saw them equal the legendary 29-match unbeaten run under Vicente del Bosque. Their last defeat came in 2023 to Scotland. Since then, they’ve gone unbeaten through Euro 2024 and World Cup qualifying.
They now chase a 30th game unbeaten when they face Georgia, led by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Victory would edge Spain closer to sealing automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Spain are among the favourites heading into that tournament, De la Fuente said: "We're going to be fighting for a very beautiful dream. I think success isn't just about achieving it; the most beautiful thing is the process, the journey."
AFPYamal’s response is on the pitch
Despite the noise, Yamal has let his football speak. After returning from his groin injury, he assisted Pedri in Barcelona’s late win over Girona and played 60 minutes before being subbed off. In the Champions League, he started against Olympiacos and was outstanding, assisting Fermin Lopez’s opener before scoring a penalty in a 6-1 thrashing. It was a reminder of just how crucial he already is at 18 years old for the Catalan giants.
Yamal now prepares for the ultimate test – away at the Santiago Bernabeu in El Clasico. He scored in his last visit during Barca’s 4-0 win and will be expected to deliver again with Barcelona still battling injuries to key attackers.