What's it like to coach Real Madrid, Barcelona in a Clásico? - ESPN

Hansi Flick has been involved in some of the biggest games in football as a player, assistant coach and manager, but Saturday's trip to Real Madrid — his first Clásico as Barcelona boss — may end up topping the lot. Those who have been involved in the fixture detail a pressure, media environment and political edge unrivaled by almost any other game. Others say the tension around the match makes it impossible to enjoy the actual 90 minutes of football.

Flick has conducted himself well as Barça coach so far. He has not complained about the club's tricky financial situation, a series of long-term injuries or about having to turn to the youth teams to fill out his squad. It has helped that results have accompanied him: nine wins from 10 games in LaLiga and a three-point lead over Madrid at the top of the table heading into this weekend's showdown at the Santiago Bernabéu (stream LIVE at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+).

However, all that good work could go out the window should his side fail to get a result in the Clásico. It is the game that is circled in red as soon as the fixtures are announced. For some Barça fans, beating Madrid is even more important than winning the league. It's important to get that message across to coaches when they arrive from abroad.

The late Terry Venables, Barcelona coach between 1984 and 1987, said in an interview in 2017: «People stopped me in the street and told me: 'Terry, you'll never win LaLiga, but don't worry, as long as you beat Madrid, everyone will be happy.'»

Venables coached in a different era, mind. Barça hadn't won LaLiga for a decade when the Englishman took over. He won the title in his first season. Now they are expected to win the league every yearb and the pressure has increased