Barcelona issue Hansi Flick with strict José Mourinho instruction

The Catalan club wants to prevent a return to the media wars that once dominated Spanish football

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Barcelona issue Hansi Flick with strict José Mourinho instruction

With José Mourinho back at Real Madrid, Barcelona have instructed Hansi Flick to avoid feeding any potential controversy.

José Mourinho’s return to the Real Madrid dugout is being monitored closely in Catalonia. According to Sport, Barcelona officials quickly spoke to Hansi Flick to establish a very precise communication policy. Their priority is to prevent one comment from the German coach sparking another public battle with the Portuguese manager.

Barcelona have not forgotten Mourinho’s first spell

Between 2010 and 2013, the rivalry between Mourinho’s Real Madrid and Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona regularly went far beyond the pitch. El Clásico fixtures unfolded in an explosive atmosphere, accompanied by tense press conferences and repeated controversies. Club officials reportedly reminded Flick of the infamous 2011 incident when Mourinho poked the late Tito Vilanova in the eye.

The Special One has so far appeared calmer since returning to Madrid. Barcelona are nevertheless refusing to lower their guard, knowing how quickly the sporting rivalry can fuel an off-field confrontation. Both giants have also made perfect starts to the new La Liga season, further increasing anticipation ahead of their upcoming meetings.

“Not a word about Mourinho or Real Madrid”

The instruction reportedly delivered to Flick could not have been clearer: “Not a word about Mourinho or Real Madrid.” The recommendation suits the former Germany manager, who rarely looks to provoke opponents. Asked about Mourinho before the opening game against Elche, Flick immediately shut the subject down: “Are we playing Real Madrid tomorrow? No? Then ask me questions about Elche.”

Maintaining that approach will become more difficult before the first Clásico, when questions about Mourinho will be unavoidable. Until then, Flick is expected to focus exclusively on his own team and deny his Madrid rival any material that could ignite a media dispute.