Curious flick plan revealed: Bayern star had to double Lionel Messi

Copying or knocking out Lionel Messi are likely to be the hardest things to do in football. Hansi Flick and Bayern achieved both in 2020. Munich outclassed FC Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals with 8: 2 and were able to eliminate the Argentine genius for more than 90 minutes. This was sometimes thanks to a spectacular trick by the former Bayern coach

The Brazilian attacking star Philippe Coutinho, with his goals to 7-2 and 8-2, played a part in the fact that the win against the Catalans was so clear. Almost more important, however, could have been his role in the run-up to the encounter. As “BILD” football boss and Bayern expert Christian Falk describes in his new book “Bayern Insider”, Flick had Messi train in advance with a double. This was the small, lively and technically strong Coutinho, who was supposed to fill the role of Messi in a training game 1: 1.

Flick’s master plan against Barcelona: B-Elf as the shadow team of FC Barcelona

However, the Brazilian wasn’t the only player who was supposed to imitate an opponent. In fact, the then head coach set up a complete B-Elf, which should represent the starting line-up of FC Barcelona as a shadow team. How the training duel turned out is unfortunately not known, but it can be assumed that the “wrong FC Barcelona” did not get under the wheels any more than the original version a little later.

But such things alone show the importance of those who are not on the field during the game, but are necessary for a functioning and effective training. Unfortunately, Coutinho has not brought in his role as Messi double and he does not seem to be able to copy the original Messi at FC Barcelona at the moment.

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