The Spanish Super Cup victory of FC Barcelona over Real Madrid will be filed away as another successful night in a growing list of big wins under Hansi Flick. Trophies tend to blur into each other over time, with scorelines and celebrations taking centre stage over perhaps more pivotal moments. Yet, this final carried a decision made in the dying minutes that revealed how Flick truly manages his squad.
With the game drifting into its dying seconds, Barcelona suddenly found themselves down to ten men after [Frenkie de Jong’s dismissal](https://semprebarca.com/he-shouldnt-have-allowed-the-corner-former-referee-criticizes-supercopa-decisions-in-barcelona-vs-real-madrid/). Real Madrid, chasing the match with urgency and numbers, had momentum. This was no longer about style or control, but rather about closing a final without panic. That was the moment Flick chose to act.
In the 93rd minute, the German coach sent Ronald Araujo onto the pitch. Not as a symbolic cameo or as a gesture for the cameras, but as a defensive solution in a pivotal final with a man down, with Madrid launching one last assault. It was a decision rooted in pragmatism rather than showmanship, something we have come to get familiar with under Flick.
Araujo had not played competitive football for months, thanks to time taken away to address mental health issues. Bringing him back in such a high-risk scenario was, on paper, unnecessary. Flick could have reshuffled, dropped lines, or simply trusted the players already on the pitch.
Instead, as highlighted by [Mundo Deportivo](https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20260111/1002599672/araujo-volvio-grande-acabo-manteado-companeros-levanto-copa.html), he placed immediate responsibility on someone returning from a long and sensitive absence. That choice tells us a lot about the savvy Barcelona boss.
Araujo’s minutes were brief but meaningful. He did exactly what was required of him on the night, defended his zone, cleared his lines, and most importantly, avoided rash decisions. Real Madrid also had the reliable Joan Garcia handling in front of the goal, holding down the Barcelona fort as our last line of defence. With no errors, hesitation, or visible nerves, Flick’s gamble did not backfire.
But the significance of the decision went beyond the pitch. By trusting Araujo in that moment, Flick sent a message to the entire squad. Time away does not mean trust is lost and that responsibility is earned through character, not just availability. In a sport that often treats players as replaceable assets, this was a human decision wrapped into a tactical one.
The scenes after full-time underlined it. Araujo was lifted into the air by teammates. Handed the captain’s armband. Given the honour of raising the trophy. These are not ceremonial gestures. They are internal acknowledgements.
For Barcelona, this was not just about closing out a final. It was about restoring one of their leaders fully and publicly. Flick did not ease Araujo back gently, but threw him straight into the fire, trusting him to stand and deliver.
That trust may prove more valuable than the trophy itself.