Hansi Flick celebrates 100 days on the Barça bench today. An anniversary that his predecessor in office, Xavi Hernández, has taken advantage of to send the German coach a message of encouragement. Through his Instagram account, the Terrassa coach wishes Flick luck, with a friendly image of both of them, along with the Catalan’s children, Asia and Dan, and the text “Good luck, Hansi! Visit Barça!”, in Catalan, Spanish and English.
100 days of growth
In these first 100 days in office, the new Barça has left good feelings thanks to the German and the young people
Hansi Flick took charge of the Barça bench on July 10, 2024, although the club announced his hiring on May 29. In these 100 days in office, the German coach has begun to build a competitive team, with a very good appearance, based on the quality and commitment of the young talents, good physical condition and solidity.
In this grace period, Barça has played 11 official matches, 9 in the League and 2 in the Champions League, with a balance of 9 wins and 2 losses. In the League, the Blaugrana team is the leader (8 wins, 1 loss, against Osasuna), with very notable numbers: it is the top outstanding scorer, with 28 goals (more than 3 goals on average per game), nine more than his immediate pursuer (Real Madrid, with 19); and defensively, it is the seventh team with the fewest goals scored (9 goals).
In the Champions League, the Blaugrana team has had one victory and one defeat. They debuted by losing in Monaco (2-1) and beat Young Boys on the second day (5-0). This Wednesday they play the third match against Bayern, Flick’s former team.
Confidence in the quarry
Flick has assumed Laporta’s guidelines and the economic restrictions, and is making the most of La Masia by giving the alternative to young talents
In all this time at the head of the team, Flick has distinguished himself by being a loyal employee of the board that chose him to replace Xavi Hernández. From the first moment, the German has assumed the guidelines of Joan Laporta and the technical secretariat of Deco: given the financial restrictions that have hampered the transfer policy (only Dani Olmo and now the Polish goalkeeper Szczesny), the coach has had no more remedy than pulling quarry. Decidedly, Flick has turned to the young talents of La Masia: Pau Cubarsí, Héctor Fort, Marc Casadó and the jewel in the crown, Lamine Yamal.
They have been joined by the new batch, to which the German has given the alternative this season: Gerard Martín, Marc Bernal (injured), Pau Víctor, Andrés Cuenca and Sergi Domínguez.
In all this time, not a single public complaint has been heard from Flick, neither about the lack of means to sign, nor with any demands, not even any regrets when injuries have reduced the squad with up to eight casualties. A faithful and quiet employee.
Flick’s hand
The German is giving his own style to the Blaugrana game, more vertical and decisive, more collective and supportive.
Flick is proving to have found the key to recover the image and good feelings of the team. One of its pillars has been the good physical condition of the players – with more young people on the team -, which allows a more linear performance, without so many ups and downs during the games.
To this better physical preparation has been added a reformed game system, based on tactical discipline and a new organization of the players (with the most notable example of Raphinha). In some cases, individual performance is now much greater, as is the case with Lewandowski, the team’s and the League’s top scorer.
In general, Flick is imprinting his own style on Barça’s game, with less touch between the lines to create, more vertical in transitions and more decisive in arrivals. A more collective, more supportive and apparently more effortful team, in which single-person leadership or the weight of differential stars as was the case with Messi, Neymar or Suárez does not stand out.
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