Iconic former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos reveals that Hansi Flick's disciplinarian approach at Barcelona wouldn't work well with their rivals.
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Kroos compared Madrid and Barca's philosophiesHighlighted Flick's strict disciplinary policiesAdmits the style would not work well at MadridFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The legendary former midfielder highlighted the fundamental differences between the philosophies of Barcelona and Madrid, noting that Flick, at the helm of the Catalan side, has implemented policies and rules that would likely not be well-received at the 15-time European champions.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT TONI KROOS SAID
Speaking on his podcast, Kroos said: "Under Hansi, several players have been dropped from the squad because they were three minutes late to a meeting. That happened a few times in Barcelona, too. They're different philosophies. Here, at Real, we would have laughed at it. Often, we didn't even know who was late – the player or the coach. It's simply a completely different mentality to not let someone play because they're five minutes late to the team meeting. Both are fine, they're just different philosophies. You could also say it's typically German."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Flick oversaw a dominant debut season in Catalunya, firing the Blaugrana to a domestic treble. Throughout the season, he became famous for his adherence to strict policy, with the manager prioritising discipline. Jules Kounde was reprimanded multiple times for turning up late to team meetings and pre-match routines, which saw him being dropped from the starting XI. Moreover, he has publicly asserted his authority over the squad, making it clear that he is the one who makes the decisions — and that the players are expected to respect and accept them.
Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID AND BARCELONA?
Real Madrid will fly to the United States this week to participate in the Club World Cup, with their first game set to be played on June 18 against Al-Hilal. Barcelona, meanwhile, will begin their pre-season in July, with La Liga scheduled to begin on August 17.