Every time Lamine Yamal gets a touch out wide on the right hand side, he is immediately jumped on by two opponents. They've figured that if they can pin him to the touchline, at least that can limit his damage at minimum.
It's because of this defensive characteristic that there have been huge debates among Barca supporters whether Hansi Flick should play Yamal centrally as a false nine.
It's a simple comparison though and everybody remembers Pep pulling a young Messi out wide to go through the middle which revolutionised tactics and the game forever. Yamal isn't 2009 Messi, and the modern game requires something different.
Moving central, the argument for
On paper this makes perfect sense, by moving the Spanish wonderkid to the center of the pitch it takes away the advantage for defenders. By clinging tightly to the touchline it means that the wing serves as an extra defender. When playing centrally it's near impossible for opposition defences to pin him up as two defenders swarm the youngster.
If you step to Yamal to press, this leaves acres of space for others such as Antony Gordon or Raphinha. If they stay back, the Spanish winger can turn and collect the ball picking out the danger. His distribution isn't just good for a winger; it's truly world class.
Why still on the right flank, the argument against
Right now shifting Yamal to the center role will be an error. In the central part of the pitch, space dies, and Yamal's greatest weapon isn't picking the ball up with his back to goal while being man handled by two defensive midfielders, it is isolating a fullback, changing gears and running at him into the box. While playing wide he has the space that he needs to build up speed and take on defenders.
Besides, Flick already possesses central operators who naturally like to work the pockets of space between the lines such as Dani Olmo. By taking Yamal away from his best position, he may sort one issue but it will only create three more.
The real solution
The solution should not be shifting Yamal to a full time false nine, but allowing him the freedom to float into different positions in the central channel. He should start on the right side in order to stretch the play, but then drop into the inner half-spaces when the ball is being played by Barcelona as they move into the attacking third.
This hybrid position will enable him to skip past the touchline problems while also being allowed to show his playmaking abilities and enjoy all the same spatial advantages as if he were a striker without being constantly double marked. Moving into a false nine on a full time basis could happen eventually but right now, leave him on the right.
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