The summer transfer market for the 2024/25 season is already underway, and although it may seem premature to say so due to the early stage of the season, it can certainly be affirmed that the most successful acquisition made by FC Barcelona this summer has been Hansi Flick. This signing, which initially raised uncertainty considering the German's successful track record leading Bayern Munich to the historic 'sextuple' in 2020, contrasted with his recent less successful experience with the German national team, posed the serious question of whether adding the German for this campaign was the right decision.
Based on what has happened so far, it gives the impression that the choice of the Catalan team to trust the Heidelberg native to lead the new sports project of the 2024/25 season has proven to be very successful. Why? Beyond the results that support this statement, with three victories in the three official matches played so far against Valencia CF (1-2), Athletic Club (2-1), and Rayo Vallecano (1-2), leaving the team with a balance of six goals scored and three conceded, a revolution is evident that is felt more at a structural and tactical level than in other aspects.
First and foremost, it is essential to highlight how the Baden-Württemberg native has adapted to the current situation of the club. Faced with the lack of desired reinforcements for the squad, he has opted for the youth academy, giving the opportunity to debut to three players who were regularly part of Barça Atlètic last season and had not had the chance to play for the first team: Gerard Martín, Pau Víctor, and Marc Bernal. It is important to mention the latter, being the youngest of the three, Flick did not hesitate to give him a starting role as one of the midfielders in the double pivot of his scheme, fielding him in all three league matches so far. However, this streak will be interrupted due to the unfortunate injury suffered by the player from Berga against Rayo Vallecano, which appears to be long-lasting.
Regarding injuries, Hansi has handled this situation masterfully, despite having a significant number of players in the infirmary, especially in the midfield (Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Marc Bernal) and in defense (Ronald Araújo, Andreas Christensen, and Eric García). Moreover, he has managed to field a competitive starting eleven by adapting the available pieces to his tactical model and style of play, minimizing the impact of the absences of key players.
Flick is tactically refining 'his' Barcelona
Tactically, Barcelona under the guidance of the German coach is showing great dynamism and a clear playing style in a increasingly well-oiled 4-2-3-1 formation. The team stands out for its physical deployment, with players pressing for almost 90 minutes when not in possession of the ball, but also showing speed and fluidity in circulation when in control of the ball, adapting to the game situation in a versatile manner and not limiting themselves to the sometimes predictable 'tiki-taka', knowing when to be vertical, when to use long passes, or when to maintain possession with short passes, something that was excessively criticized in the past.
Furthermore, Flick's style of play has enhanced the performance of the available players. The goal-scoring version of Robert Lewandowski has been seen in the last few matches, as he is not alone as a reference in the attacking front, but is supported by Lamine Yamal on the right and Ferran Torres on the left, backed by Raphinha who plays a prominent role as an attacking midfielder with freedom to move in the final third of the field, even acting as a left winger at times, showing great ease and a wide range of tactical resources.
Similarly, the choice of Bernal as a more positional defensive midfielder, alongside Pedri González freed to create play in the center of the field, has been a wise decision. Additionally, Hansi has continued with the central defensive pairing of Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez, completing his defensive line with Alejandro Balde on the left flank and Jules Koundé on the right, in a core eleven where he will now have to integrate Dani Olmo, who will likely act as an attacking midfielder.
The psychological strength of the German coach's Barcelona
Finally, a notable aspect of the Barcelona under the German coach is their psychological strength. The team does not collapse in the face of adverse results, but rather is stimulated to quickly reverse them. In two of the three official matches played so far, they have conceded the first goal, but have managed to turn the score around with a remarkable response, proving to be a combative and resilient team. Moreover, Flick tends to make effective substitutions to refresh the squad and manage the result in the most optimal way possible.