Marca: From calm and decent to passionate, the new version of Flick is more outspoken and real

In this round of La Liga, Barcelona defeated Girona 2-1 at home. After the game, the Spanish media "Marca" wrote an article analyzing the changes in Barcelona coach Flick's tactics and mentality.

In this round of Barcelona's 2-1 victory over Girona, Flick was sent off for protesting against a penalty before the end, and he celebrated passionately after Araujo's stoppage-time winner, which confirmed the change in attitude shown by the German coach this season.

Western media pointed out that Flick is no longer what he was last season. His impeccable calmness in dealing with all the tough moments in his first year has turned into behavior that has sparked controversy on several occasions. Most recently, he was sent off at the last moment of the game against Girona, which triggered his passionate gestures when celebrating Araujo's goal. And this is not the first time the German coach has shown such a previously unknown passionate side.

The Barcelona coach’s second year in charge has fully demonstrated his directness. What was once calm, composed and decent has now been replaced by spontaneity, instinctive reactions and sincerity, making Flick a more humane coach who is closer to the image of a typical football coach.

Flick has no reservations this season

At the beginning of the season, he sent a direct message to Fermín Lopez due to his sluggish performance, which marked such an unexpected and unusual move by a coach who is accustomed to solving internal problems behind closed doors. "I wasn't too happy with him in pre-season, but he has improved in the last two weeks," he said after his impressive performance against Como in Fermin. It was criticism, followed up by praise for the player on that play. But the signal is clear: the new Flick is online.

Warning the team to be wary of "ego"

After the draw with Rayo Vallecano at the Vallecas Stadium, he made a more general criticism of the team. Flick used this setback to remind his disciples: "The important thing is not to have ego emotions, which will kill the possibility of success." This is another public statement that was difficult to find in his first year of coaching Barcelona.

The Yamal Case

However, the controversy that undoubtedly best showcased this unknown new side of Flick was the conflict with the Spanish national team after Yamal was injured. Flick and Spain coach Luis de la Fuente accused each other and exchanged words at the press conference: "Yamal went to the national team with pain. This is not the way to protect players. The Spanish national team has the best football players in the world, but it should also care about the players, including young players. I am worried about this."

He was analyzing the relevant issues. His forthrightness when dealing with Barcelona affairs even led him to give Yamal a gentle warning: "He is an extraordinary player, but he must focus on hard work. With talent, you can reach a certain level, but if you want to go up one or two steps, you have to work hard. This is not just offense with the ball, but also defense." This obviously refers to his disciple's lack of defensive investment.

Face the Rumors

To this end, Flick had to clarify the recent rumors that he made an exception for Yamal in the game against Paris Saint-Germain. There were reports that Yamal was late for the pre-match warm-up period, but Flick did not punish him as he has punished other players in the past. Flick quickly refuted this false information, and his tough attitude was far from his past: "It is pure nonsense to say that the club forced me to play Yamar against Paris."

Passionate celebration and explanation

The new version of Flick added a new chapter in the game against Girona. He was furious after protesting against Hill 0 Manzano's stoppage time decision and was eventually sent off, which will prevent him from taking command at the Santiago Bernabeu in the next El Clasico. Two minutes later, on the sidelines, the Barcelona coach lost control of his emotions when Araujo beat the buzzer and made repeated passionate gestures. Flick himself tried to clarify after the game: "It was a product of tension. Football is full of passion. It is not directed at anyone."

What is certain is that Flick is no longer the calm image of carefully considering every word in front of the microphone and calmly dealing with the inherent tension in any game. Just one season in the Spanish league was enough to adjust those attitudes and make him a new Flick, more controversial, no doubt but also more real.