Hansi Flick Reveals Barcelona's Secret Strategy to Neutralize Kylian Mbappe in Super Cup Showdown

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has pledged to implement the necessary tactical adjustments to contain Kylian Mbappé should the Real Madrid forward be fit enough to participate in Sunday's Super Cup final.

Mbappé, who has netted 29 times in merely 24 appearances this campaign across all tournaments, has traveled to Saudi Arabia and participated in Madrid's training sessions after recovering from a knee problem that prevented him from playing in the semifinal victory against Atlético Madrid.

Should Mbappé be available for the final, it would mark his sixth encounter with Barcelona as a Madrid player, where he'll aim to increase his current record of six Clásico strikes.

Despite these remarkable personal numbers, Mbappé and Madrid have struggled against Flick's Barcelona side. They suffered defeats in all four encounters throughout 2024–25 before securing their first win this season with a 2–1 victory, providing Flick with belief that Barcelona can claim success whether or not the French star participates.

"At present, Mbappé stands as the finest striker," Flick recognized. "He has found the net frequently and possesses elite-level ability. We observed the semifinals as a collective, the entire squad.

"How many Clásicos have we contested over the past eighteen months? And how many defeats have we suffered? We've lost just one. That's the key point.

"I recognize Mbappé as an exceptional talent who excels when given space in behind the defensive line. We'll modify certain aspects, as we consistently do. However, not exclusively due to Mbappé. We remain committed to our philosophy and our concepts."

Eric García: Barcelona Cannot Focus Solely on Mbappé

Among the players responsible for containing Mbappé—should he feature—is Eric García, who occupied his preferred center-back role in the semifinal but has served as a reliable midfield option for Flick throughout this season.

Whatever position he's assigned, Eric understands the significance of collective effort to not only neutralize Mbappé, but also restrict Los Blancos' other star attackers including Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham.

"Mbappé represents exceptional quality, but if we enhance what we executed effectively in El Clásico, we'll achieve a positive outcome," Eric forecasted.

"Individual marking isn't viable; it would be an error to concentrate on a single player. There are numerous elite-level talents. The crucial element is approaching it collectively.

"Every Real Madrid player possesses quality, Mbappé can change games, but regardless of his participation... If he's ready, it benefits everyone."