Hansi Flick has landed on his feet at Barcelona after the team went through some of the worst years in its history. His arrival raised doubts, given his lack of experience on the bench and taking over a team that had undergone few changes from last season and where he had to rely on youth players to have a squad with enough players. However, from the beginning, we saw a fighting and committed team. He got off to a spectacular start in La Liga, with seven consecutive wins, but above all, you could see a team that could fight for everything during the season.
The elimination against Inter Milan was a blow for the coach and for Barcelona, especially because of the way they lost, conceding the goal that took the game into extra time in injury time. After winning the Copa del Rey, they now have to finish off the league, where they are four points ahead of Real Madrid and could seal the title this weekend. But whatever happens, Hansi Flick has managed to restore hope to a Barcelona side that hopes to be back in the Champions League next season.
Hansi Hansi Flick and his physical demands
Hansi Flick is known for the high level of physical preparation he demands from his players. You only have to look at how all his players give their all for every ball during the 90 minutes, and the best example of this was against Inter, where in extra time, the Blaugrana players maintained an intensity rarely seen.
This physical strength has been one of Barcelona’s hallmarks throughout the season, overwhelming their opponents on the road, fighting for every ball as if it were their last, and overcoming adverse situations when others would have given up. But that physical demand can take its toll, and it is something that worries Barcelona’s management.
Hansi Flick’s career
Hansi Flick’s career is very impressive. He has little experience on the bench, but he has achieved success. After a spell with the German national team as assistant to Jokin Law, in November 2019 he was appointed interim coach of Bayern Munich following the dismissal of Niko Kovac. And just a month and a half later, he was confirmed as coach for the rest of the season given the radical change in the team. This year was very similar to Barcelona’s, with an extraordinary physical display. The season ended with a treble, which became a sextuple with the German Super Cup, the European Super Cup, and the Club World Cup.
However, something was beginning to change in the dressing room. The players began to turn against the German coach’s demands and discipline, and disputes were on the rise. In April 2021, shortly before winning his second Bundesliga title, Hansi Flick announced that he was leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season. Before arriving at Barcelona, he returned to the German national team, where he was unable to achieve success.
What awaits Barcelona next year
Given that the only known precedent is Bayern Munich, it is to be expected that Hansi Flick will maintain his level of intensity for next season, and there is concern that this could break the squad given the physical demands. However, there is a clear difference between the two teams. Bayern were coming off a treble, while Barcelona will no longer be able to achieve this. On the other hand, the Germans had more experienced players, while the Catalans are young and eager to conquer everything.
Hansi Flick’s character and demands are enormous, and we will see how the squad reacts to a scenario in which Barcelona will be required to perform much better than they have this year, where the pressure will be even greater.