Flick reveals secret Mourinho visit in Madrid as Löw's aide

Hansi Flick met José Mourinho in Madrid while the current Barcelona coach was assistant to Joachim Löw with the German national team. Flick revealed it himself at the press conference ahead of the Clásico, according to Mundo Deportivo, where he praised the Real Madrid boss and said every German player who worked with Mourinho speaks highly of him.

Löw travelled to the capital more than once in the 2011/12 season, when Madrid had Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira, key pieces for Germany. Flick joined him on one of those trips, which helped them track the German internationals and the Spanish players ahead of Euro 2012.

Flick also drew tactical conclusions: he already saw most opponents sitting back and waiting for counterattacks, so new solutions were needed.

Their only direct meeting as coaches came in December 2019, when Flick's Bayern, newly arrived after Kovac's sacking, beat Mourinho's Tottenham 3-1 in the group stage. They will face each other again tomorrow, almost seven years later.