Kylian Mbappe is in contention after missing the semi final due to fitness issues
Hansi Flick won’t change Barcelona’s playing style to cope with the threat of Kylian Mbappe, the German has said.
Madrid set up a fourth-consecutive clásico Spanish Super Cup final when they survived a tough Atletico Madrid test on Thursday. Meanwhile, Flick’s side thrashed Athletic Club 5-0 in the other semi-final match in Saudi Arabia.
Ahead of the final, Flick was asked how he planned to handle the threat posed by Mbappe, who has had a few fitness issues but is in contention for a start on Sunday. The Frenchman is in red-hot form, even by his standards, having scored 29 goals in 24 appearances so far this season.
But Flick said: “How many clásicos have we played in the last one-and-a-half years? Five. We lost one, OK? So it’s about that.
“I know he’s a fantastic player and with space he’s really great, but it’s not about Mbappe, it’s about Madrid and how we want to play. We are focused on our philosophy, our idea how we want to play.
“We want to play like Barca and Barca’s style is different to Real Madrid’s.”
Barcelona claimed four wins in a row over Madrid last season, including in the Super Cup final that campaign. But the last time both sides met, in October, Madrid won, with Mbappe scoring a ruthless opener.
“It was only one game,” Flick insisted. “We came back. We have focused on what is necessary and we play much better and also more successful. This is the thing.
“The team is very focused. I am happy about this situation at the moment. We want to play on our best level. I have a good feeling about my team. Tomorrow we have to show how good we are.”
