Barcelona warn Hansi Flick to avoid Jose Mourinho comments ahead of Real Madrid return

Barcelona have advised head coach Hansi Flick not to mention Jose Mourinho or Real Madrid in press conferences, as the club seeks to prevent unnecessary controversy and avoid giving the Portuguese manager material to reignite one of Spanish football’s most heated rivalries.

According to Sport, Flick is regarded as an ideal example of a composed coach. His calmness and experience have generally helped him avoid needless problems, particularly when speaking to the media.

The German’s public comments are usually clear and focused on Barcelona’s next match and the opponent they are preparing to face. However, the club considered it important to alert him to situations he may not have encountered directly in the past and which require an exceptional degree of caution.

The warning was revealed by David Bernabeu during the opening episode of the fourth season of La Posesion, a programme run by Sport. It was discussed in the summer, at the same time as Mourinho’s return to the Real Madrid dugout was being confirmed.

Reminder of Mourinho’s first spell

Barcelona reportedly briefed Flick on the controversy surrounding Mourinho’s first period at Real Madrid. That version of the manager was considerably more confrontational than the one seen in recent times, although the Catalan newspaper stressed that the club does not believe he should be underestimated.

Sport described Mourinho as someone many people regard as “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”, suggesting that his more measured public image should not lead Barcelona to relax their vigilance.

Flick was also reminded of Mourinho’s previous clashes with the late Tito Vilanova, including the infamous eye-poking incident, as well as the enormous pressure faced by Pep Guardiola during the years in which Barcelona dominated Spanish football on the pitch.

Although Flick was already aware of much of the background because he had followed those events from afar, Barcelona gave him a firm instruction after explaining the wider context: “Do not say a single word about Mourinho or Real Madrid.”

The newspaper said Flick has followed that advice exactly and is expected to continue doing so because it fits his personality and his refusal to be drawn into provocation in situations of this kind.

That approach was evident at the news conference before Barcelona’s opening league match against Elche. When Flick was asked about Real Madrid and Mourinho’s arrival, he gave a brief response: “Are we playing Real Madrid tomorrow? Then ask me about Elche.”

The German will inevitably face more questions about Real Madrid and Mourinho as the dates of the Clasico matches approach. He will have to respond on those occasions, but Barcelona expect him to do so with the utmost care.

The club’s concern is that Mourinho could use any comment to fuel the rivalry, particularly after he launched a strong attack on referees on Monday. Barcelona’s intention is therefore to ensure that Flick does not say anything that could be taken out of context or used to create a fresh confrontation.

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