Barcelona's manager Hansi Flick has taken a firm stance on player discipline, warning his squad against showing what he terms as 'weakness' by engaging in disputes with match officials. This comes in the wake of Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham's controversial red card during Saturday's match against Osasuna.
The incident, which saw Bellingham dismissed by referee José Luis Munuera Montero for allegedly saying 'f--- you,' has sparked debate in Spanish football. The England international maintains there was a misunderstanding, claiming he actually said 'f--- off' in frustration.
However, Flick dismissed the significance of this distinction during a news conference. "When you say this to me, I think it's not nice," he stated. "It's disrespect. For me, it's like that." The Barcelona coach emphasized that such behavior has no place in the game, regardless of the exact phrasing used.
The former Bayern Munich manager has implemented a clear policy regarding referee interactions within his team. "Why waste time or energy to speak or discuss with the referee about these decisions?" he questioned, adding that only the team captain should engage with officials. "It's very important and it's not good for the team when you do it and get the red card. It's a weakness and we don't like that."
This disciplinary focus comes at a crucial time for Barcelona, who could potentially move to the top of LaLiga with a victory against Rayo Vallecano on Monday. The opportunity arose after both Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid dropped points this weekend. Barcelona's recent form has been impressive, with the team unbeaten in 11 games across all competitions since the start of the year.
Looking ahead to Monday's match, Flick praised Rayo Vallecano's recent performance under coach Iñigo Pérez, noting their nine-game unbeaten run in LaLiga. "Rayo are doing a really good job," he acknowledged. "They're a brave team and they press with real intensity, at home and also away."
On the team news front, Barcelona received a boost with Ronald Araújo being declared fit despite an ankle concern last week. However, the team will still be without Marc-André ter Stegen, Andreas Christensen, and Marc Bernal for the upcoming fixture.
