Hansi Flick might exhibit a tough demeanor on the exterior but if there is one thing that has been clear about the FC Barcelona head coach, it is that he is a very warm person on the inside who believes in personal relationships.
On the touchline, the German boss has often been sharing a moment or two with his players and his method seems to be working well. His gesture towards Hector Fort after the 7-0 win over Real Valladolid perfectly summed up the man that he is.
Now, as per Mundo Deportivo, Flick has made a similar gesture to the injured Barcelona prodigy, Marc Bernal. The 17-year-old defensive midfielder tore his ACL in the game against Rayo Vallecano and has since undergone surgery.
Flick has since gone to visit the youngster in the hospital post-surgery to take some time to talk to him and provide him with encouragement. The German tactician also presented him with a ‘special gift’—a self-help book intended to help the youngster navigate through these challenging times.
The first few months of the recovery could turn out to be the most difficult for Bernal, who will be restricted in terms of movement. It could all get overwhelming very quickly and Flick understands the importance of having an arm around his shoulder.
The German boss placed immense faith in the 17-year-old to give him a chance in pre-season and make him a starting pivot when the La Liga campaign took off. It’s such a shame that his breakthrough was cut short.
Right now, the important thing for Bernal is to continue working on his recovery and focus on the bigger picture. Every day that he crosses is one day lesser to the day he can play again and that is where his motivation lies.
We have seen so many footballers make successful returns post ACL and one can only hope that Bernal’s game isn’t affected by this serious injury. Only time will tell how it pans out but Flick’s gesture endears him more to the fans in what is promising to be an exciting era under the German coach.
