Hansi Flick faces a tough challenge at Barcelona, to break the curse of German coaches at the club. Previous German coaches clashed with star players, like Udo Lattek who failed to win over Maradona and Schuster. At the end of the 1974-75 season, Hennes Weisweiler took over, but conflicts with Johan Cruyff led to his resignation. Despite the struggles, Cruyff remained a hero in the eyes of the fans due to past glories like winning the league in 1974.
Weisweiler’s tensions with Cruyff came to a head, leading to his resignation after an incident where Cruyff allegedly spat at him. The club’s decision to renew Cruyff’s contract sparked Weisweiler’s departure in April 1976. Similarly, German coach Udo Lattek faced difficulties at Barcelona in the 1980s. Lattek’s tenure was marked by challenges, including disagreements with star player Schuster, resulting in his dismissal after a disappointing season.
Despite the disappointment in the league, Lattek managed to salvage the season by winning the UEFA Cup. However, tensions between players and the coach persisted, leading to a turbulent period. Lattek’s departure and the subsequent hiring of Menotti signaled the end of the era for German coaches at Barcelona, showing the difficulties they faced in handling star players and the pressure of the club.