BARCELONA, Spain — Coach Hansi Flick of Barcelona has announced a shift in policy regarding player punctuality, opting for “huge” fines instead of benching latecomers on match days.
Among those affected by this policy earlier in the season were notable players such as Raphinha and Marcus Rashford, who both found themselves on the bench as Flick enforced strict rules on timeliness.
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Following discussions with the team captains, Flick transitioned from sporting penalties to financial repercussions.
“It was always stressful for me when I looked at my watch and saw it was only 60 or 45 seconds until kickoff and a player wasn’t there,” he explained in a press conference on Friday. “I was constantly wondering if they were coming. That’s why I decided to make this change after talking to the captains.”
Raphinha was benched against Valencia in September, and Rashford was sidelined a week later against Getafe, following similar incidents last season involving Jules Koundé and Iñaki Peña.
According to Flick, the financial penalties — reportedly around €40,000, as stated by players Pedri and Ferran Torres — have proven effective thus far.
“The fines are significant and so far, no one has arrived even a second late, which suggests that my decision was the right one,” the German coach remarked.
Flick made these comments ahead of Barcelona’s LaLiga clash against Villarreal on Saturday, marking his 100th game at the helm of the Spanish champions.
In his first 99 matches, he has secured 74 victories, the second-best record for a Barça coach after Luis Enrique at this stage, though he emphasizes that such statistics are insignificant unless they lead to more trophies.
“Reaching this milestone is a great honor,” he stated. “Coaching this club has always been a dream, so celebrating 100 games is fantastic. However, I don’t focus on the numbers; it’s all about the standings at the end of the season. If we finish at the top, that’s what counts.”
With a victory over Villarreal, Barcelona could temporarily extend their lead at the top of LaLiga to four points, as second-placed Real Madrid won’t play until Monday against Getafe.
This weekend, Flick will be missing Frenkie de Jong, who is sidelined for six weeks due to a hamstring injury. However, Pedri is aiming for a starting position after coming on as a substitute in last weekend’s victory over Levante.