Hansi Flick’s first few months as Barcelona manager have been defined by dominance. The German, who left Bayern Munich in 2023 to the frustration of many Bavarians, took the leap of faith outside of his homeland to manage in Catalonia and La Liga for the first time. So far, the results speak for themselves, with Barca top of the table at the time of writing and topping La Liga betting to lift the title come the end of the season.
With the ruthless efficiency most would expect from a German manager, Flick immediately cracked down on this Barca group, combining a dressing room of experienced European stalwarts with the youthful exuberance and raw talent of the La Masia academy graduates.
Together, this Barca side is one of the best in years, and that has been showcased by crushing victories over Flick’s former side Bayern, as well as Real Madrid, besting Carlo Ancelotti 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu in his first El Classico.
But how has Flick managed to build this Barca-winning machine so quickly? Under Xavi, the side looked a shell of its former self, but the new manager has turned things around and looks well on course to win silverware in his first season.
In this article, we look at Flick’s Barcelona transformation and what the side is capable of achieving together over the coming months.
Implementing more discipline
A big part of Flick’s winning regime, wherever he has gone, is implementing a strict pre-season to get the best out of his players.
Little details like dress choices to training and extra work with his new set of fitness coaches go a long way throughout the course of the season.
Barca’s budget restraints limited Flick’s summer transfer activity, so rather than signing players that better suited his strategy, he implemented strict coaching policies from the start, so the squad could easily pick things up when the season started.
Winning mentality
Of all three permanent signings that Barca made in the transfer window – including goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny who came out of retirement – all of them had experienced the taste of winning the biggest accolades. Dani Olmo arrived after being the Golden Boot winner as Spain won Euro 2024, and alongside Lamine Yamal, the two have gained valuable experience in preparation for Flick’s management.
During his Bayern era, Flick won the treble with his talisman Robert Lewandowski, who arrived at Camp Nou in 2022 searching for a new challenge. The two have quickly rekindled their relationship, with the Polish striker scoring 14 goals in his first 12 La Liga games, looking well on track for the Pichichi Trophy.
Even in the twilight of his career, Lewandowski is scoring the goals that have set the standard for the rest of the Barca players, with many of the other young stars – Yamal, Pedri, Gavi, and Marc Casadó – following suit.
Getting the best out of the squad
As mentioned, this is a thin Barca squad, but Flick’s arrival has rejuvenated players that many thought were surplus to requirements.
Raphinha is enjoying a resurgence under the German. The winger has improved massively in front of goal and looks set to be a key component of Brazil’s qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup
“I started the season with a different mentality, and I knew that playing in this club, I would have to adapt to playing in different positions,” he said. “I am really happy about how things are going. If before I was working at 100%, now it’s 200%. I want to give my best for the club.
“Man, there were several moments, not just one [when I considered leaving].
“There was a lot of self-doubt. I have a nasty habit of criticising myself heavily, so to speak, so that pressure made me think about leaving. Then, obviously, after the World Cup I had a huge turnaround, managing to put up great numbers in six months.
“Last season, after the injuries I had, the sending off [against Getafe in the opening game], and also at the end of the season, seeing a lot of things that the club wanted to sell me, that the fans wanted me to leave, it also ends up crossing your mind to leave, to go somewhere where there’s no pressure.
“But football is no fun without pressure, football has to have a little pressure. I’ve always dreamed of playing for big clubs, playing big games for the national team, and you can’t realise those dreams without pressure, the pressure comes with it.”
Alongside Raphinha, Flick is slowly building one of the best attacks in Europe, and it will be interesting to see just how far they can go this season.
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