Hansi Flick addressed the media ahead of El Clásico, where Barcelona will host Real Madrid this Sunday at 21:00 at Camp Nou. The German coach was asked about the reported tension in Real Madrid’s dressing room following an altercation between Valverde and Tchouaméni.
“I think these are things that happen everywhere in the world, it’s not something unique to Real Madrid. It surprised me a bit, but it doesn’t worry me because it’s not my team,” Flick said. He then turned his focus to his own squad: “The most important thing and what I appreciate about this club is that we are all on the same path. Everyone is there for each other. These things happen in football and in life. I won’t say it’s normal, but it can happen. The best thing is communication—that comes first, and then we see how to handle it.”
The German also highlighted the atmosphere in Barcelona’s dressing room. “We have a fantastic relationship among all the players. La Masia is very special. They have been playing together since they were 12 or 13 years old. You can see that connection. I won’t say nothing has ever happened in our dressing room. We are human and we make mistakes, but what matters is how you react afterward. I am very happy with my team. We have great communication, and that is very important in this job.”
On the match itself, Flick downplayed the significance of Real Madrid’s crisis. “Our goal is to win at home. We have a fantastic team, and the fans support us. But for them, it’s also a Clásico, and everyone will give 100%. They want to win. El Clásico is important for everyone.”
Flick emphasized the importance of securing a second consecutive La Liga title. “It’s important for the fans, the players, and also for us, the staff. We want to win the title, the second in a row. It’s incredible and not normal here in Spain. Nothing else matters. We are focused on that.” He added, “Winning La Liga two times in a row is something very important. That is what we want, to take the final step tomorrow. That’s why we play football.”
The German coach dismissed the idea that Real Madrid are better without Mbappé. “He is one of the best players in the world, come on… With him on the pitch, they have a lot of quality. In every situation, he is very dangerous.”
Flick acknowledged that Sunday’s match is special. “I know it’s a special game, special for everyone, for the players, for the staff, but I don’t think about anything else—just playing a great match and winning it. That’s what I want to see.”
