Managing senior players
Flick has been publicly lauded by players in the past four months for his man-management. Flick has also been praised by players such as Philippe Coutinho, who have found it difficult to get regular playing time under him.
The German manager will have a much difficult task next season if Die Roten spends big next season. Managing younger players will be easier compared to telling senior players such as Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller about less playing time.
The arrival of Alexander Nubel is surely going to create a selection dilemma in the goalkeeping department, while the potential arrival of Kai Havertz may reduce Muller’s playing time. In such a situation, Flick will have to make sure that senior players do not get upset as that will have a disturbing impact in the dressing room.
The German manager has been an astute man-manager till now, but next year it will be a big test for him in terms of handling big egos in the dressing room. Mapping out a plan to give every player in the squad an adequate amount of playing time will be one of the first things on Flick’s agenda during the summer break.