“I don’t know what to say. My team is fantastic. I’m proud of all of them,” said Hansi Flick with teary eyes. Emotional. “It wasn’t easy,” repeated the coach who experienced his happiest day as a coach by winning his second League as Barcelona’s coach and, surely, one of the most difficult on a personal level after the passing of his father early this morning at the age of 81. His loss stirred the heart of Barcelonismo and his players, who lifted him to the sky of Camp Nou after winning the League on a historic day: against Real Madrid and at the Spotify Camp Nou.
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It was a difficult day. After hearing the sad news, the coach, who was accompanied by his entire family – his wife, his daughters, and his grandchildren – decided to stay in Barcelona to lead his team in the most important match of the season. “When my mother called me and told me my father had died, I thought: Should I tell it or hide it? I decided to share it. How they reacted… It was incredible. I will never forget this day. We are a family,” Flick explained. It was then that the squad requested to play the match with a black armband, as well as observe a respectful minute of silence.
All in all, the start of the clásico that crowned the blaugrana team as League champions was already goosebumps, as Johan Cruyff would say. A mosaic with the word ‘Força Barça’. The crowd of a packed, gala Camp Nou singing the Cant del Barça a cappella. Hansi Flick, visibly affected, could not hold back the emotion. “I just want them to go out, win, and enjoy,” he said in statements to Movistar before the match started. Afterwards, with a sad look, he thanked the embrace of his counterpart on the Real Madrid bench, Álvaro Arbeloa. But above all, he was moved by the emotional minute of silence dedicated to him by the stadium. In the box, Joan Laporta and Rafa Yuste followed the tribute with serious expressions and crossed themselves during the tribute. Afterwards, the coach thanked with applause the ovation from a Camp Nou that sang his name.
I want to thank my staff, the squad, the board. The fans. The most important thing is that I am very proud of this team. Thank you for your will, for your energy. Let’s celebrate it”
Hansi Flick
FC Barcelona Coach
The team was even more determined to win the clásico to dedicate the League to their coach. The 1-0 was Rashford’s free kick. The hug was from all of Barcelona to the coach, who was engulfed in a huddle… but this was collective and full of hugs. That of a squad that defends together, attacks together, and celebrates together. As their mentor has taught them. Putting egos aside. And when Ferran Torres scored the 2-0, the Valencian squeezed his coach, lifting him off the ground.
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Flick is everything to his Barça and to a Camp Nou that recorded its best attendance to date with 62,213 spectators. Also the fan section, which was fully packed with 1,200 fans. Beyond the classic chants of “Vinícius, Beach Ball,” “Cono, stay” for Arbeloa or a milder one like “Let them fight,” due to the fight between Valverde and Tchouaméni, the stands and fans did not stop chanting the name of the coach who gave them the 29th League in the club’s history and the second in a row. From the 75th minute, the chant was unanimous: the “champions, champions” was heard in every corner. When the referee blew the final whistle, Real Madrid regained their dignity and the squad offered their condolences to the German.
I decided to share it. How they reacted… It was incredible. I will never forget this day. We are a family”
Hansi Flick
The party arrived and with it the heartfelt hug from Laporta and the microphone: “Bona nit, culers,” said Flick in Catalan. “I must continue in English,” he continued. “It has been a tough day… but I will never forget it,” the coach stated. “I want to thank my staff, the squad, the board. The fans. The most important thing is that I am very proud of this team. Thank you for your will, for your energy. I thought it would be harder to win again but we did very well. We haven’t scored as many goals as last year, but we have been better in defense. And we will continue,” said the German. Regarding the victory parade scheduled for this Monday, club sources explain that Flick was also consulted. The German will be there to celebrate the title with his Barcelona family.
