Hansi Flick leaves Barcelona players out when speaking of “the best” attacker in soccer
The FC Barcelona manager spoke highly of one Real Madrid player in particular when asked in his pre-Clásico press conference.
FC Barcelona manager Hansi Flick spoke ahead of a potentially historic Clásico against rivals Real Madrid, one in which anything other than a defeat will hand the blaugrana the title - something that has never happened before in Spanish football history.
In the days leading up to the game, the headlines across Europe have been of the in-fighting in the Spanish capital, with reports of altercations between Real Madrid players, most notably that between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouaméni, with the former ending up in hospital after taking a punch and hitting his head.
“Was I surprised? Maybe a little bit,” Flick admitted when asked about the reports that have emerged from the club in the past 72 hours. However, he admitted that “these things happen in football, in life,” making sure to add that “I won’t say it’s normal, but it can happen and you have to manage it, you have to speak. It’s better to communicate.
❝ The players have done a fantastic job. They always train to get better and better. It will be difficult to pick the starting eleven tomorrow. ❞
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 9, 2026
Hansi Flick#elclásico pic.twitter.com/S9GoPwkEgs
“It’s not about the ego, it’s always about the team”
He then chose to leave the topic to one side with: “I don’t want to speak about Madrid, it’s not my job. It’s always about the team, the ‘we,’ not the ‘me,’ it’s not about the ego, it’s always about the team."
“But for them it’s also a Clásico this weekend. They will still be 100% focused, they want to win also. This is why the Clásico is so important for everyone -- for Real and for Barça.”
In contrast, the unity inside the Barcelona dressing room was something Hansi Flick was keen to point out in his comments to the press, highlighting that “the atmosphere, the connection between the players is something really special.”
“We have players with a lot of quality, world class players,” he added. “The connection between everyone is amazing.”
😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/AiMJ6l4EGy
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 9, 2026
Two title in a row “not normal here in Spain”
On the potential achievements of avoiding defeat at Camp Nou, Flick said that “winning a second title with this young team would be unbelievable. The players have made a fantastic job and now we want to win the title, the second in a row, which is amazing - and not normal here in Spain.”
Flick was then asked about Kylian Mbappé. The German coach was, as expected from such a considerate and respectful manager, hugely complimentary of the forward, calling him “one of the best in the world,” adding that “he has incredible quality and is ”very dangerous in any situation.-
“In front of goal, with his skill, he’s the best in my opinion,” he concluded.
Real Madrid take on Barcelona in El Clásico on Sunday 10 May at 9pm local time (3pm ET).
Warming up for #ElClásico 🔥 pic.twitter.com/5BKI3Fl3hk
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 9, 2026
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment