Without Hansi Flick, here’s all you need to know on the man leading Barcelona against Real Madrid | OneFootball

Barcelona will not have manager Hansi Flick on the touchline for their trip to the Santiago Bernabeu to face Real Madrid in the first Clasico of the season. He will be replaced by assistant manager Marcus Sorg on the bench as a result.

Sorg gave Barcelona’s press conference ahead of the game, with Flick suspended for a sending off last week against Girona. The Blaugrana had appealed the decision, but it was turned down on three occasions. Flick’s right-hand man told the press that they would miss him against Real Madrid.

Marcus Sorg’s career before Barcelona

The 59-year-old spent his 15-year playing career as a forward in his native Germany’s lower divisions, before retiring in 1999. Sorg would then become head coach of Ulm, before moving to Freiburg as a youth coach – he also had a four-month period as head coach there in 2011. After that, he went back to working with young players at Bayern Munich, and then earned the job as Germany’s under-19s manager.

He would win the under-19 Euros in 2014, and in 2016, became part of the coaching staff for the senior national team. After Flick was sacked as Germany coach in 2023, Sorg followed him out the door.

Sorg’s personality – a low-key figure

According to Diario AS, Sorg likes to keep a low-profile, and careful with his words. He is regarded as loyal, and highly self-critical when it comes to analysing the game. On a more personal level, he relates well to players, and generally earns their trust.

“Marcus is a very meticulous and detailed coach. That’s highly valued because you feel like you’re learning something new in every training session. In addition to his exceptional tactical skills, that’s what makes him special,” AS quote Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka, who described Sorg after spending time with him in their youth ranks.

Despite not being a fluent Spanish speaker, he did pick up some during a two-month internship in Buenos Aires with Argentinos Juniors back in 2008, explain Sport. While he did wind up Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti last season, Sorg is described as a man who gives little away.

Sorg’s attacking approach

A former engineering student, Sorg is keen to emphasize discipline when it comes to his perspective on the pitch, but one that underpins an attacking approach, something visible in Flick’s Barcelona. At times while managing, Sorg has tested out the trend recently popularised by Luis Enrique of watching games from the stands. Considered a major influence on another Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich, Sorg has spoken before of his enjoyment working with young players, with ‘speed, hunger and technical ability’.