Germany manager Jürgen Klopp has stated he favors Barcelona to win Sunday’s El Clásico against Real Madrid.

In his view, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona is clearly the stronger team at this stage. However, Klopp also admitted he has always had a personal preference for Barcelona.

In an interview with German broadcaster DAZN, Klopp confirmed he would not miss the highly anticipated Spanish football clash: “Of course, I will watch El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid. I have watched this match at every stage of my life.”

Klopp also discussed how his views on the rivalry have evolved and why he supports compatriot Hansi Flick’s Barcelona.

Klopp said: “In the past, I supported Barcelona more because I hated how Pepe and other defenders used to just sweep everything away in the backline. That was the only reason I always supported Barcelona. Nowadays, I look at the game from a neutral perspective. I support the stronger team. And as things stand, that team is likely to be Barcelona.”

Barcelona has had a strong start to the season and will host their old rivals at Camp Nou, currently leading Real Madrid by six points. However, Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the season this week against Paris Saint-Germain.

Cesc Fàbregas has admitted he instructed his Como players to ease off after they raced into a 4-0 lead against Manchester United.

The Como boss claims to regret that decision after the Red Devils scored a late consolation.

Speaking after one of the most remarkable results in Como’s history, the former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder revealed he prioritised energy conservation with a Serie A fixture against Sassuolo looming.

“I regret the last ten minutes because I was the one who told the team to slow down the tempo because there’s another match and at 4-0 we could manage things a little,” Fàbregas said.

“I told the players to stop running and stay in the middle, and that is something I regret because I’m always the first to push them to fight until the end.

Cesc Fabregas: “I told them [Como players] to slow down at 4-0!”

Nico Paz had torn United apart with two goals and an assist; Anastasios Douvikas added a third; and Jacobo Ramón made it 4-0 before Joshua Zirkzee’s late strike set the final score at 4-1.

The thrashing leaves Michael Carrick’s position under intense scrutiny after another dismal display. United have now won just two of their 11 matches in all competitions this season.

Fàbregas, while proud of a “special night,” insisted his side must remain grounded.

The Spaniard’s admission only highlighted the scale of United’s humiliation on a night when even the opposing manager felt the need to show mercy.

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has delivered a public retort to his own captain, Bruno Fernandes, after the Portuguese midfielder threw the coaching staff under the bus following a humiliating defeat in Italy.

The public fallout stems from Wednesday’s disastrous 4-1 UEFA Champions League loss to tournament debutants Como, a result that extended Manchester United’s winless streak across all competitions to an abysmal seven matches.

The crisis escalated immediately after the final whistle at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium. Having been completely outclassed by Nico Paz and a vibrant Como side, Fernandes used his post-match media duties to question the team’s defensive philosophy, pointing the finger directly at Carrick’s staff.

“It’s a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball,” Fernandes declared, openly undermining the tactical plan.

When pressed further on whether the manager got the tactics wrong, the captain added, “That’s on the manager and the staff to see it, it’s not on me.

Facing immense pressure regarding his rapidly deteriorating job security, Carrick refused to let the captain’s comments slide during an explosive press conference.

The 45-year-old manager hit back forcefully, debunking Fernandes’ tactical claims and instead questioning the squad’s fundamental work ethic and desire.

“We actually half-pressed man-to-man the second half and then conceded a goal from that,” Carrick countered, completely rejecting the midfielder’s narrative.

He then delivered a scathing assessment of his players’ physical commitment.

“And there’s a little bit on whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don’t run, and you don’t run forward, and you don’t run back, you ain’t going to win,” Carrick stated bluntly.

The manager’s brutal response confirmed that the relationship between the coaching staff and the squad’s senior leadership is rapidly breaking down.

Fernandes’ complaints follow closely behind defender Lisandro Martínez’s recent explosive interview, where the Argentine centre-back criticised the club’s upper hierarchy and sporting direction.

With the players openly questioning the board and the manager explicitly calling out the players’ lack of running, the situation at Old Trafford appears utterly toxic.