Hansi Flick lost his nerve on Saturday evening. 1-1 draw against Girona, added time announced: only four minutes. The FC Barcelona coach explodes. He protests to the fourth referee, gets angry, gesticulates. Red card. Expulsion. Then, in the last seconds, Ronald Araujo scored the winning goal on a cross from Frenkie de Jong. Explosion of joy. But Flick doesn't celebrate like the others. Near the bench, he hits his left arm twice against his right arm. A gesture towards whom? The referee? The fourth referee? Nobody really knows. But the image is shocking.
Freewheeling flick
Flick defended himself after the match. “Football is emotion, tension. It wasn't for anyone, it was just a celebration. My reaction was not directed at the referee. I don't even know why he showed me the second box. The celebration wasn't against anyone, it was just how we won. I was happy. » Words to clear oneself, but which ring hollow. Because the images speak for themselves. This gesture, whether we like it or not, resembles an arm of honor. And coming from a coach of this level, it’s unworthy.
Hansi Flick demands iron discipline from his players. Arrive on time for training, follow instructions, stay calm on the pitch. But what is he showing on Saturday evening? A man who loses control, who loses his temper with the officials, who celebrates with an ambiguous gesture captured by all the cameras. Yes, football is made of emotions. Yes, the stakes were enormous: overtaking Real Madrid in the standings, winning in the last seconds. But a high-level coach must know how to control himself. He is an example for his players, for the club, for the millions of supporters who watch.
A deserved punishment
Flick will miss the Clasico. Absent from the edge of the pitch at the Santiago Bernabéu on October 26. A logical sanction after his expulsion, but also an opportunity to meditate on his behavior. Barça dominated Real Madrid last season, winning all four head-to-head meetings. But this time, Flick will have to watch from the stands. Perhaps this forced break will allow him to reflect on the image he reflects. Because leading a team is not just about winning matches. It is also about embodying values.
The return of Lamine Yamal, decisive passer on Pedri's goal, is excellent news for Barça. But Flick's gesture will be remembered. Arm of honor or just a clumsy celebration? Never mind. The image is there, engraved. And she doesn't honor anyone. Let's hope that this expulsion serves as a lesson. Because even in victory, there are ways to behave.
