"He has no problem saying enough and walking away": the precedent to avoid with Hansi Flick
Bayern, the six-time champions, were derailed when the relationship between the coach and the board broke down.
BarcelonaMany still struggle to explain how the perfect machine that Hansi Flick designed in just a few months, his Bayern Munich, would end up falling apart a season later. A few months after winning the sextet, a feat that until then had only been achieved by Pep Guardiola's Barça, Flick resigned. Despite writing his Bayern's name into the history books, the manager was left with a label, a kind of legend that warns about how he went about his second year in the Bavarian capital. However, the inside story leads to a series of disputes and disagreements with the board that was key.
Between the problems registering players in La Liga and the difficulties in returning to Camp Nou, At Barça, he has had a rather difficult summer. But this is nothing new for Flick, who accepted it before signing. But while at Barcelona, Flick has been adapting to the available tools and setbacks, in Germany, the differences with the Bavarian nobleman ended with the coach leaving Bayern. Here, outwardly, he always presented himself as a club man, although behind closed doors he expressed discontent over some issues. One of the most recent was the Asian tour.
During his first few months in Munich after replacing Niko Kovac, Flick built a team with his own unique style. "He found himself in a situation similar to Barça's: a club in crisis and a disgruntled team. And he did what he'd already seen," explains Nico Linner, a journalist for the Picture. Relations with the club's management began to deteriorate shortly after, especially with Hasan Salihamidžić, the sporting director. "He's one of the main reasons why he left," Linner notes. Flick and Salihamidžić had differing views on the squad's configuration. It was decided not to renew Thiago Alcántara's contract, who went to Liverpool, and the sporting director opted for Catalan Marc Roca. In goal, Salihamidžić signed Alexander Nübel to raise Manuel Neuer's level of competence, but the goalkeeper left the club after only four appearances.
Flick wasn't given the team he wanted. Rumors also began to circulate that he might end up managing the German national team, just after Joachim Löw had resigned. Salihamidžić then began to approach other managers. The relationship between them was already strained. "When Flick is faced with a situation that makes him uncomfortable, he is very true to his convictions. He asks for what he needs to do his job well. And if he can't do the job the way he wants, he has no problem saying enough and leaving," says Linner.
He didn't hesitate to speak his mind in the days leading up to the Super Cup, with Barça trying to register Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor, something they ultimately achieved thanks to a very cautious approach from the Spanish government. Although the club tried to convey calm to the players and coaching staff, it was Laporta himself who informed Flick that they would not be able to play in the tournament. The coach asked him to speak to the players himself. It wasn't the only request. In his first moments at Barcelona, he showed no problem with Laporta and other directors coming to watch training sessions, but he asked them to wear club tracksuits and not formal attire.
Messages to Lamine Yamal before taking office
Although Flick decided to resign from Bayern after his renewal, his relationship with the dressing room remained intact. "He's always gotten along well with the players. He's approachable, almost a friend. Everyone was delighted with him," Linner recalls. At Barça, he's followed the same formula. With some players, like Lamine Yamal, he corresponded even before meeting them in person. He exchanged messages with the Catalan striker during last summer's European Championship and even offered some advice. Before the Spain-Germany semi-final, he detailed the best way to attack and the weaknesses of David Raum, the left-back Flick coached for the national team.
Bayern's Lamine Yamal was Jamal Musiala, another of the world's great talents. He also restored the best versions of Gnabry and Coman, who have since failed to perform at that level. He closed his second season by winning the Bundesliga, with a painful Cup exit against Holstein Kiel of the Second Division and falling in the Champions League quarterfinals to Paris Saint-Germain. Despite a decent season, it had a lot to offer. Many remember him as being unable to continue that goal-scoring machine, but he left feeling like he hadn't been listened to. "In Germany, it's very surprising how Flick has adapted to Barça's limitations. If you talk to him, it's understandable. He's handled it perfectly," Linner concludes.