Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has acknowledged that he too must handle conflicts within the dressing room, a topic that has dominated headlines recently following internal turmoil at arch-rivals Real Madrid.
With Barcelona on the verge of clinching the La Liga title, many believe the championship is all but secured. However, since their Champions League exit, Flick has urged his players to stay focused on the immediate task. “Tomorrow we have to take the final step. We are fighting to win the title,” Flick said. “The whole squad is important, but the work of the La Masia players, their philosophy and mentality, has clearly helped the team. It won’t be easy tomorrow; everyone will give their all. Every player is a professional—that’s something I really admire about this team.”
When asked how he deals with dressing-room disputes, the German coach praised the atmosphere at Barcelona’s training ground. “When something happens, we all move in the same direction. Things can happen, but you have to deal with it—that’s it,” Flick explained. “Our relationships are very good. You can see the bond among the La Masia players; they have known each other since the age of 12 or 13. That has to be part of the club’s foundation for the coming years, focusing on developing talent and improving players.”
Nevertheless, he conceded that incidents do occur in the Barcelona locker room. “I won’t say that nothing ever happens in our dressing room. It’s normal—we are human, and everyone makes mistakes. It can happen, but what matters is how we react. I am satisfied with my team. I always try to listen and explain things to the players. We have very good communication, which is important in our work.”
Turning to the upcoming Clásico, Flick found it hard to keep his mind solely on the match, given the week’s focus on Real Madrid’s internal issues. “I know this is a special game—special for everyone, for the players, for the staff. But I don’t think about anything else except playing a great match and winning it. That’s what I want to see,” Flick stated. “We are playing at home, we have a great team, and we have the fans’ support. The Clásico is important for everyone, for both Madrid and Barça, so we want to win.”
Barcelona can secure the La Liga title by avoiding defeat against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou, with the match scheduled for Monday at 3:00 AM Beijing time. Flick emphasized his desire for the team to pursue victory, as celebrations are already being prepared in the Catalan capital.