On Friday, it was announced that Hansi Flick will not be able to manage Barcelona in the upcoming match against Madrid’s Real at the Santiago Bernabéu. Spain’s Sports Administrative Court (TAD) rejected an appeal from the Catalan club, which had sought to overturn its head coach’s suspension.
Flick had previously been sent off during the match against Girona for arguing with the referee near the end of the game. Afterward, the disciplinary committee handed him a one-match ban. Barcelona filed a complaint hoping the punishment would be lifted, but neither the appeals committee nor the TAD sided with the club.
As a result, the German coach will not be on the bench for one of the most anticipated matches of the season. His duties will temporarily shift to assistant Markus Sorg, who will lead the team on the field and hold the traditional pre-match press conference.
The Catalans will continue preparations for the crucial clash as usual. The morning session will take place at the club’s training ground, and afterwards, Sorg will speak with reporters and answer questions about tactics and the team’s mindset.
It’s worth noting that a similar situation has occurred before: last season, Sorg also stood in for Flick when he was sent off in a match against Betis. The team then managed the temporary setback and delivered a solid performance.
The absence of the head coach is not expected to affect the players’ mindset. The club management has expressed its support for Flick and emphasized that it will continue to defend the team’s interests in similar situations.
The match between Barcelona and Real Madrid traditionally generates huge interest among fans and experts. This time, the attention is focused not only on the sporting intrigue but also on the forced coaching changes on the visitors’ bench.
