Before the Shot: Flick Honors a Beloved Member Ahead of Barca vs Newcastle
9 March 2026
Training Delay Becomes a Moment of Remembrance
German coach Hansi Flick gathered all Barça players and staff in the center circle at St James' Park before starting training. After Flick's and Barça goalkeeper's press conference, the Blaugrana trained on the turf. They head to Newcastle United on Tuesday for the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16.
The session began five minutes late as Flick waited for club president Rafa Youst, who arrived after Joan Laporta stepped down to stand for re-election, accompanied by Deco, the sporting director, and Bojan Krkic, the sporting coordinator.
Honoring a Life and a Grandmother's Memory
The delay doubled as a minute of silence for Dr. Carles Minaro, who died at 53 just days before Barça's match with Osasuna. The tribute echoed last weekend's remembrance when Barça wore armbands in the Bilbao game, and Gavi joined the squad after a personal loss.
Gavi, the Blaugrana midfielder, wore black armbands and is still weeks away from medical clearance, though he trained with the team. The squad continued training as they prepare to take on Newcastle in the first leg of the Champions League.
Credit: Getty Images
Punchline 1: If patience were a tactic, Flick would be calling it a game plan.
Punchline 2: My fantasy team asked for a moment of silence—apparently, it didn’t mute the competition.
