Former Manchester United midfielder Quinton Fortune has warned Barcelona manager Hansi Flick to prepare for the psychological tactics of new Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho when the two Spanish giants renew their rivalry in the 2026/27 season.
Mourinho is preparing for his first campaign back at the Santiago Bernabéu after being appointed by Real Madrid this summer. His arrival has added another layer of intrigue to El Clásico, with Barcelona having dominated the fixture in recent seasons.
Speaking to Tribal Football, Fortune said Flick’s calm personality could help him handle Mourinho, but warned that the Barcelona manager must avoid being drawn into the Portuguese coach’s mind games.
Fortune believes Mourinho is particularly skilled at creating distractions around opposing teams and shifting pressure onto their managers and players.
“Hansi Flick is a calm character, and I think he already knows what is coming now that José Mourinho is back at Real Madrid. If he allows Mourinho to get into his head, then it is done,” Fortune said.
The former Manchester United player added that Mourinho’s squad also has enough quality to challenge Barcelona on the pitch, meaning the Catalan club will face both a tactical and psychological test.
Fortune expects Mourinho to use media attention and his reputation for psychological battles to take pressure away from his own players and place it on Flick’s side.
Flick has enjoyed considerable success since taking charge of Barcelona in 2024, particularly in El Clásico. The German has won six of his seven meetings with Real Madrid across all competitions.
Mourinho now faces the task of reversing that recent advantage after Barcelona won the LaLiga title in each of the previous two seasons.
The Portuguese manager will be expected to use Real Madrid’s strong squad to restore the balance of power in one of football’s biggest rivalries, while Flick will look to maintain Barcelona’s recent dominance.
The first meetings between the two teams under Mourinho and Flick are therefore expected to provide an early test of both managers’ tactical approach and ability to handle pressure.