Hansi Flick praises Jose Mourinho’s career as Real Madrid boss takes a different approach

Hansi Flick and Jose Mourinho gave markedly different responses when asked about one another ahead of Sunday’s El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid in the 10th round of La Liga.

Mourinho, the Real Madrid manager, was asked during his news conference to assess Flick, who leads Barcelona. The Portuguese coach appeared unwilling to expand on the subject and questioned why he had been asked about an opposing manager.

“I don’t understand why you ask me about the opponents,” Mourinho said. “What do you want me to say about Flick? He is a great coach and he is doing a great job – and that’s it. What do you want me to say? I cannot say anything else.”

Flick held his press conference after Mourinho and was asked a similar question about the Real Madrid manager. His response was considerably more detailed, with the Barcelona coach highlighting Mourinho’s long record of success.

“I have the utmost respect for him,” Flick said. “When you coach teams at this level for many years and continue to achieve success, that is evidence of quality. He has proved that at every club he has worked for.”

Flick also recalled meeting Mourinho in Madrid during his time as an assistant to Germany manager Joachim Low. He said the Portuguese coach had earned the respect of the players he worked with.

“At national-team level, when I was Joachim Low’s assistant, I met him once in Madrid because we went to visit him,” Flick said. “I can say that every player in the national team who worked with him spoke about him with great respect. We had some players there.”

Flick concluded by describing Mourinho not only as a successful colleague but also as someone he regarded highly on a personal professional level.

“I think that is how it is,” he said. “He is a colleague in the profession. He is a very successful colleague – and a great colleague.”