Why Hansi Flick looked shaken after Barcelona’s win over Alavés
The clip gained traction partly because it followed a punishing stretch in Barça’s schedule. Just days earlier, Flick’s side had been soundly beaten 3–0 by Chelsea in midweek Champions League action, and some fans initially assumed the weight of that loss was still lingering.
Cameras also caught winger Raphinha leaning in to speak to his manager a moment interpreted online as an attempt to steady Flick’s nerves.
But according to reporting from Mundo Deportivo, those early assumptions missed the real issue. The outlet notes that the coach’s reaction stemmed from two late expulsions on Barcelona’s bench rather than from performance anxiety.
Goalkeeper coach José Ramón de la Fuente and assistant coach Marcus Sorg were both shown red cards during the final stages of the match, with Sorg dismissed in stoppage time.
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People close to the touchline said the mood around the technical area shifted immediately afterward, and Flick appeared to carry that frustration straight through the final whistle.
Footage widely circulated after the final whistle:
Frustration with officiating and communication
Mundo Deportivo also reported that Flick has been increasingly vocal privately and occasionally in public about the limited communication he feels he receives from Spanish referees. Those familiar with his coaching style note that he is accustomed to the Bundesliga’s more conversational approach, where officials often provide quick explanations to ease tensions.
During the Alavés match, fourth official Álvaro Cánovas García-Villarrubia reportedly became the focus of Flick’s irritation. Tensions had already run high following a first-half incident involving Lamine Yamal, who went down in the box after contact from Parada. Referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias waved play on, prompting complaints from the Barcelona bench.
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Flick, according to the Spanish reporting, believes the 17-year-old winger is not consistently protected and does not always receive the same calls as veteran players something that has been a talking point within the club for weeks.
Looking ahead
Despite the attention the viral clip has attracted, Barcelona’s season remains firmly on track. The Chelsea defeat stands as their only true setback to this point, and the squad has shown few signs of wobbling domestically.
That Raphinha immediately approached Flick in the moment caught on camera has also been viewed internally as proof of a strong player-manager bond.
As Barcelona turns its focus toward a demanding 2026 calendar, expectations around the club continue to grow. With last season’s domestic treble setting the benchmark and the Champions League again high on the priority list, Flick’s intensity visible even on nights when his team wins may ultimately be the standard that carries Barça through another high-pressure campaign.
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Sources: Mundo Deportivo
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