El Clasico: How Barcelona Will Stop Mbappe – Flick

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has explained how he plans to neutralise the threat of Kylian Mbappe in today’s El Clasico. He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and fans have been reacting.

Stressing that defensive discipline and spatial awareness will be the deciding factors at the Spotify Camp Nou, Flick stated that team effort will be required to nullify Mbappe‘s threat rather than individual marking duties.

The German coach added that the lasting impact Mourinho has on his squads is a sign of his managerial quality.

His words, “For us, important is our positioning, against the ball and with the ball.

Against the ball, it’s about the right positioning between each other, being compact, this is important when you play with this high line. If we have all this, for the backline it’s much easier to defend. This is what we have to do.

For me, Cuba and Gerard are playing a really good season. What they are doing is unbelievable. They are working together, speaking together, growing together.

I am really happy for that. And Espart did really good in the last games. Right-back, left-back, he doesn’t care about this. He is an unbelievable player, but also has space to improve, a lot of potential.

We know Madrid’s strengths at set pieces. We have analysed it; they’re one of the best in this. Of course they have quality, physically strong players. We spoke about this today and also trained this today. It’s about us defending it much better than in Paris. This is what we did today.

I have a lot of respect for Mourinho. When you coach for so many years and achieve so much success, it’s proof of great talent. When I was Low’s assistant, I met him in Madrid.

All the players who played under him speak of him with great respect. He’s a colleague, a very successful man.

The Clasico is different. It’s the best game. The whole world is looking at this game. Millions of people, different cultures, different generations are connected by this game. It’s unbelievable. It’s only three points, but it’s much more. It’s fantastic to be a part of this. I think we are ready. I have confidence about my team. I have a good feeling.”