'It's good to have him back' - Barca boss Flick lauds Yamal return after Sociedad turnaround
Lamine Yamal was back in action on Sunday after missing Barcelona's previous four games, and took just 62 seconds to make an impact.
Hansi Flick revelled in Lamine Yamal's return from injury, acknowledging "it's good to have him back" after he played a starring role in Barcelona's win over Real Sociedad.
The Blaugrana leapfrogged Real Madrid to LaLiga's summit after coming from behind to beat La Real 2-1 at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, where Jules Kounde cancelled out Alvaro Odriozola's first-half effort.
Yamal, who missed Barca's previous four games with a groin problem, then took centre stage after he was introduced as a 58th-minute substitute.
Just 62 seconds after coming on, the 18-year-old embarked on a trademark mazy run before clipping a ball into the box for Robert Lewandowski to head in what proved to be the winning goal.
"I am happy to have him back, we all are," Flick said. "He showed directly the outstanding strength he has, to create chances, to give the last pass. It's good to have him back.
"We found it very difficult, but we also deserve this win. I really appreciate how my team is playing, how they perform. It doesn't matter if we change the starting XI a bit, because they all give their all and I love that. I am very proud.
"[Being top] is temporary. It is good to have, because it puts pressure on the opponents. But now we have to defend this position, and we are delighted to do that."
Yamal has now been directly involved in 18 goals in his last 18 competitive games for club and country (eight goals, 10 assists).
It came six days after he finished second to Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele in the Ballon d'Or, while winning the Kopa Trophy, which he presented to the fans ahead of kick-off.
And Sociedad boss Sergio Francisco described the 18-year-old as "the best in the world" following his match-winning contribution.
"Lamine's presence on the pitch alone is a threat," Francisco told reporters. "It is so difficult to stop him, even bringing on fresh players from the bench to defend him.
"It's great to watch him play. He showed again that he is most likely the best in the world. His introduction off the bench decided the game."
