Flick’s slap to Real Madrid: ‘We are not like that nor do we look for excuses’

Flick also recalls Ancelotti’s complaints about the refereeing bias toward Real Madrid when he was Bayern’s coach.

Hansi Flick doesn’t speak much, but when he does, he is fully understood. He avoids controversy, yet he has not hesitated to assess Real Madrid’s conduct.

Flick recalls Ancelotti expressing discontent over referees’ bias toward Real Madrid

Flick draws from his memory of Carlo Ancelotti’s time in Germany, when Ancelotti, as Bayern Munich’s coach, strongly criticized a perceived injustice against his team at the Bernabéu.

As noted in Florentino’s letter, such incidents were visible worldwide, which leaves Flick puzzled about how Real Madrid can complain about refereeing, particularly in this manner.

Flick has chosen to distance himself from the strategies that Real Madrid often uses to create social unrest when it serves their interests.

“That’s not our style”

When asked about Florentino Pérez’s letter, Flick stated, “They did it that way, but that’s not our style. We don’t make excuses.”

He made it clear he doesn’t share the same approach as Real Madrid: “Every club has its own way. We are human and we make mistakes. Referees have a difficult job, and we should respect that.” He was further questioned at a press conference before the Valencia-Barça Copa match about whether it was disrespectful for Real Madrid to claim that the League is rigged.

“It’s our fault if we drop points”

Flick responded, “When I arrived, I said I didn’t want excuses or complaints. We have to win our games, and we know we’ve dropped several points. That’s our fault.”

Regarding sports, Flick discussed the upcoming quarter-final match that Barça plays this Thursday in Valencia.

“It’s a different match from the 7-1, we are playing away. They will try to press us, and the atmosphere will be very different.” A person in sports attire with a bandage on their hand is comforted by another person touching their face.

“Olmo is an option for the second half. As for Gavi, there is a protocol in place, so he’s not an option for the match. He has trained separately, and it’s good that he’s doing so after the tough blow.”

“Casadó or De Jong? You always compare players by their positions, but it’s not that simple. We have a match tomorrow and another on Sunday. We’ll arrive in the early morning, and I need all players. I’m happy to have options. Frenkie is a great player, but so is Casadó. It doesn’t matter who I choose, what matters is the team.”

“Be cautious with Dani Olmo”

“Olmo has proven in many matches that he’s very important. He’s a midfielder who knows how to score goals and maintain possession… But we must be cautious with him due to his recurring injuries, and he must continue playing.”

“I remember the League match in Valencia, the first of the season. It was a tough match, but we came back. Tomorrow, we can’t win the title, but we could lose it.”

“Coaching Barça has been a dream. It’s unbelievable to be here on my 60th birthday. I love Barcelona – the city, the food, the sun – but I also love this club. Working and coaching this team is fantastic; I have unique players. I’ve never had this before. It’s a dream come true.”

There could be rotations in Seville. The match starts at 9:30 PM, and we won’t be able to travel back from Valencia, so we’ll arrive late.

“Iñaki Peña won’t play in the Copa. Tek is clearly number one. Iñaki is a fantastic goalkeeper, but we’ve chosen Tek for his personality and style.”