FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick faced the media ahead of one of the most crucial Clásicos in recent years. Tonight, for the first time in history, Barça host Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou with the chance to clinch the La Liga title against their eternal rivals.
However, the match is overshadowed by the personal tragedy Hansi Flick is enduring. The German manager received news of his father’s passing in the last few hours, an emotional blow he shared with both the squad and the club’s leadership before the game. Despite the grief, Flick has decided to remain in charge and lead the team from the bench for the Clásico.
Flick has built much of his coaching career at clubs like Hoffenheim, Bayern Munich, and now FC Barcelona. He also previously managed the German national team.
In an interview with *Süddeutsche Zeitung*, Flick explained that his approach to managing the dressing room is deeply tied to his childhood and his father’s influence—particularly the uncertainty of how his father would react to disappointment. “I am very grateful to my father for everything he made possible for me, and I know what he meant by that. But it wasn’t always easy back then,” he said.
The German coach has often recalled the sacrifices his parents made so he could pursue his passion. Even in school, Flick would tell his teachers he would one day become a professional footballer. What seemed like a distant dream became reality, thanks to his family’s constant support.
As he explained in an interview cited by *Tribuna*, his parents had to take on heavy responsibilities at a very young age. “My mother gave birth to me when she was 16. My father was also very young and took on the responsibility of a large family from an early age.”
Flick’s father had always dreamed of becoming a footballer himself but never achieved that goal due to family obligations. Still, he worked hard to help his son succeed where he could not. “My father worked hard to give us a dignified life and did everything possible to help me achieve what he couldn’t: to become a real footballer,” Flick recalled.
