Hansi Flick is the new king of Barcelona. FC Barcelona fans and members have surrendered to the German coach, who in a very short time, has managed to get the best out of what he has to sign the best league debut for the Blaugrana club since the 2020/21 season. Under his guidance, they have won their first four games with a balance of 13 goals for and 3 against.
Under the direction of the German, the culé team has beaten Valencia 1-2, Athletic Club 2-1, Rayo Vallecano 1-2 and Valladolid 7-0. They are leaders in the Spanish championship by adding 12 points out of 12 possible and they go into the international break with the satisfaction of doing a great job. And it is that they do not only win but they also win well, demonstrating great play on the field. All this thanks to a Flick strategy that is based on five key concepts.
Confidence in the players
One of the most important changes we have seen so far is that Flick seems to always bet on his own players. The player knows the quality of the players he has available and gives them the confidence to shine either as starters or as substitutes. Under his command we have enjoyed the clear improvement of Robert Lewandowski, who at 36 years of age leads the fight for the 'Pichichi' with four goals scored so far. We have also seen players such as Raphinha, Pedri and Olmo stand out, who offer great performances the moment they step on the pitch.
Bet on La Masia
Despite being a foreign coach, Hansi understands the identity of the club as a Spanish one. The German knows the importance of La Masia and, with a limited squad, he continues to trust players who have come out of it such as Lamine Yamal, Fermín and Pau Cubarsí and will continue to give continuity to Gavi. In addition to this, Flick has given the opportunity to debut to four young players such as Pau Victor, Gerard Martin, Sergi Dominguez, Marc Casado and Marc Bernal. The latter will miss the rest of the season due to a cruciate ligament injury.
Pressure at all times
For Flick it is extremely important that his team stays alert throughout the match. We saw this seal a lot at Bayern Munich, where regardless of whether the team was scoring, they never stopped pressing and going for more. This has already been replicated at Barcelona where all players must give 100% even if the result seems to be under control. It is simple, respect the opponent at all times and be ready for the unexpected. This was made clear in the 7-0 victory over Valladolid.
Focus on the present
Another key aspect for this Barça is to focus on the present, not on the past and even less on the future. The German coach has not had it easy, nor will he, with a limited squad for this season. Flick wanted a left winger and a pivot and they have not arrived. Bernal's serious injury also represents a significant loss, added to those of players like Araújo, De Jong and Gavi who are still recovering from their physical problems. Even so, Hansi has decided to work with what he has and try to get the best out of the group he now manages.
One game at a time
Finally, Flick has realized how important it is to lead the way in press conferences, which he does in English to have control of the message he wants to give. He does not enter into controversy and always appears cautious and relaxed. His approach of focusing on the day to day is important to him and although he is happy with what he has achieved, he knows that he has not done anything yet so he will continue to implement these strategies to turn his team into a winning machine.