Barcelona’s Clasico defeat brings fresh questions over Hansi Flick’s leadership

Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid have seemingly left a mark on Barcelona, with the aftermath of the Clasico exposing tension inside Hansi Flick’s squad.

The Portuguese manager may not have intended to create such an effect, and his approach may simply have been part of the normal demands of football. However, according to Spanish newspaper AS, the consequences of the match have affected Flick on several fronts.

The 2-1 defeat by Real Madrid also made Barcelona’s meeting with Paris Saint-Germain appear more significant, while the team lost its tactical balance during the Clasico. Once the result was confirmed, Flick pointed to a lack of physical readiness and freshness among his players.

There have since been signs that the issue extends beyond what happened on the pitch. Barcelona held a team meal on Wednesday in an attempt to strengthen relationships within the squad. Such gatherings are usually arranged when there are matters that need to be discussed internally.

On Thursday, the Barcelona board unexpectedly included a statement expressing “full confidence in the team and coaching staff” in its media release. The wording may not carry any major significance and appeared within broader praise for the team, but its inclusion was nevertheless notable.

A further development came on Friday, when Flick suggested Barcelona could consider signing a player during the January transfer window. The possibility of strengthening the squad had remained unresolved since the summer.

All of those events have unfolded within days of the Clasico loss.

Lamine Yamal has also faced criticism from some quarters after travelling to London alone on Sunday, separate from the official trip organised by the club on Monday morning. Barcelona’s supporters’ group in the stands was also temporarily closed.

Meanwhile, a long-standing criticism of Flick has resurfaced. During his first two years at Barcelona, supporters have questioned the team’s ability to remain composed and control difficult situations.

The examples recalled include the second leg against Inter Milan in the semi-finals, when Barcelona were in a strong position after taking a 3-2 lead. Another was the management of the second leg of the quarter-final against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano, where Barcelona had achieved the difficult part by going 2-0 ahead within the opening 25 minutes.

Flick’s handling of the latest match has therefore caused confusion, despite his previous success in overcoming smaller crises at Barcelona. Those episodes included the disastrous November of 2024, as well as a 4-0 defeat in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final followed by a loss to Girona.

Each crisis involved similar steps, including internal discussions, team meals and other actions designed to address the situation. The coming days will show how deep the division attributed to Mourinho’s impact has become.

Barcelona face Deportivo Alaves in La Liga on 31 October 2026. Racing Santander play Real Madrid in La Liga on 01 November 2026.