FC Barcelona is looking to clinch the Spanish league title with a victory in the Clásico, of all matches. Ahead of the game, Hansi Flick expressed his ‘surprise’ at Real’s internal conflicts—and explained why there is no room for “egos” in his team.
29 wins, one draw, and just four losses—on Sunday evening, Hansi Flick aims to cap off “a fantastic season” with Barcelona. Ironically, it’s in the explosive Clásico that the Catalans can clinch the championship.
“I want to see the same level and the same style of play tomorrow,” Flick demanded at Saturday’s press conference: “I know the tension is high. The Clásico is the best Spanish soccer has to offer. We want to play as a team, as a unit. I’m not focusing on anything else.”
But the journalists present were, of course, eager to hear what the former German national team coach had to say about the events at Real Madrid. A dispute between Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni has once again intensified long-standing questions about the internal atmosphere at the club.
“The most important thing—and I’m grateful to this club for that—is that we’re all pulling in the same direction,” Flick said initially: “These aren’t everyday occurrences, but they can happen. You have to deal with them and talk about them. You have to communicate; that’s how we handle it here. If something happens, I’ll give it some thought.”
Doesn’t the current conflict reveal something deeper? “I think things like this happen all over the world; it’s not something that only happens at Real Madrid,” Flick clarified: “It surprised me a little, but it doesn’t worry me, because it’s not my team.”
When it comes to Barcelona, Flick has been raving for months about the “fantastic rapport among the players,” which he emphasized once again on Saturday. “La Masia also holds a special place, because the bond they share is something special. The club must stick to this philosophy of promoting young talent,” he explained, adding: “I don’t want to claim that there are no conflicts—we all make mistakes and are only human—but you have to know how to react to them.”
“It’s not about egos”
Flick repeatedly emphasized the importance of “very good communication.” “I’m satisfied with my team; I talk to them and listen to them. That’s important for our work.” He spoke only in general terms about Real—saying that wasn’t “my job.”
And yet he still offered indirect advice to the Real locker room, which is reportedly in complete disarray: “You have to focus on the team, on the ‘we’ and not the ‘I.’ It’s not about egos. Everything has to be positive for the team; that’s how we handle it here.”
Another cause for concern at Real right now is Kylian Mbappé, who has been heavily criticized for his recent trip to Italy. Flick preferred to talk about the player—an outstanding one: “He’s among the best in the world and brings tremendous quality to the table. He’s dangerous and simply incredible in front of the goal. In that category, he’s the best.”
As for which team is the best, Barcelona aims to prove it in the Clásico.