Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has done his best to stay out of refereeing controversy during his time at the club, but has certainly been tempted to express his true feelings in recent weeks.
The German coach said at the start of his tenure that he would not talk about referees or make excuses for results, but has changed his tune somewhat in recent weeks. Flick commented that Robert Lewandowski's goal against Real Sociedad should have been allowed at the post-match press conference, and although he explained that he was unsure what he was sent off for against Real Betis, he only asked at the following press conference that the bar was the same for every coach.
According to Radio Catalunya, Flick has been left 'stunned' by the Spanish referees in recent months. He is also surprised at the lack of reaction from the club and the press to decisions he does not understand. Privately he has commented on the matter and does not understand why different criteria were applied to him and other League managers during his broadcast. Still, he will not discuss the matter publicly to maintain a lower profile.
Flick will not be on the bench for Barcelona's crunch match at Montjuic on Saturday due to a two-match suspension following his sending-off in Seville. That is the second match he will miss, completing his suspension, with assistant Marcus Sorg overseeing a 1-0 defeat to Leganes in his absence.
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