Barcelona manager Hansi Flick admitted his behavior in Saturday’s match against Girona was not something he wants remembered. The 60-year-old received a red card after being booked twice late in the game, once for mocking the fourth official and again for an inappropriate gesture following Ronald Araujo’s winning goal.
“I don’t like seeing myself like that on television, and I don’t want my grandchildren to see their grandfather acting this way,” Flick said after the match. “I’ll need to change how I react in those moments.”
Flick was first cautioned for clapping sarcastically when the board showed four minutes of added time. When Barcelona finally broke the deadlock through Araujo, his intense celebrations drew a second yellow card from the referee.
Manager says emotions come from love for the club
Speaking to reporters ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League fixture against Olympiacos, Flick explained that his reaction came from passion rather than anger. He said his deep feelings for the club sometimes make it difficult to contain his excitement.
“When I was at Bayern Munich, people said I never smiled,” he recalled. “Even when we scored eight goals against Barcelona, my expression didn’t change. Now, at Barca, it’s different. This club has changed me completely.”
Flick admitted that while his emotional side has grown, he needs to remain composed. “Maybe I should learn to control my impulses better, but I truly love Barcelona — the club, the city, and the supporters. That’s why I always give everything.”
Suspension rules flick out of Clásico
The red card means Flick will serve a touchline suspension for the upcoming El Clasico against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Sunday. Barcelona has appealed the decision in hopes of having him available for the crucial match.
Club president Joan Laporta suggested referee Jesus Gil Manzano’s handling of the Girona game might have been influenced by bias, mentioning a “white hand” — a veiled reference to Real Madrid’s influence.
Flick declined to endorse those claims. “I had no problem with the referee,” he said. “He interpreted my reaction differently, and that’s something I must accept.”
