HansiFlick, who at that time was JoachimLöw's assistant in the German national team, traveled to Madrid to meet with José Mourinho, coach of RealMadrid. The meeting, which was announced in a press conference prior to the Classic, was described by Flick as a “secret” visit in which he showed his respect for the white coach and highlighted the quality of the players who shared the field with the German team.
The context of the meeting dates back to the 2011/12 season, when Löw traveled to the capital several times to observe MesutÖzil and SamiKhedira, both at RealMadrid and key pieces of the German national team. At that time, Barça had beaten Madrid 3-1 in the Clásico at the end of 2011, and the German coach had attended the match at the Santiago Bernabeu. Shortly after, Löw returned to Madrid accompanied by Flick, and the two spoke with Mourinho about the performances of Özil and Khedira, who had made the transition to RealMadrid and who, according to the coach, “were the right decision for them.”
During the visit, Flick took the opportunity to observe the play of the players who were also part of the Spanish team, with the intention of analyzing their tactics and movements. “Nowadays, most rivals retreat and wait for counterattacks, which means we need new solutions,” commented the German, pointing out the need to adapt to the evolution of European football.
The exchange of ideas between the two coaches occurred at a time when Germany was preparing to participate in the Euro 2012 Championship. Despite having been eliminated in the 2010 World Cup semi-finals against Spain, the German team was determined to improve its performance. Euro 2012 resulted in a second defeat to Italy, but the tournament set the stage for the success of the 2014 World Cup, where Germany won the title after beating Argentina in the final.
Although the two coaches have only met on the pitch once, in December 2019, when Flick took over as coach of Bayern Munich after the dismissal of NicoKovács and Mourinho was managing Tottenham, the meeting was memorable. Bayern beat Tottenham 3‑1 in the group stage, and the two teams will meet again almost seven years later in an upcoming competition.