Flick flips a new page

The German tactician has reinvigorated Barcelona with his high-pressing game, bringing back the style and swagger they once were famous for, writes Sidney Kiran.

When Barcelona’s grand rebuild under Xavi Hernandez faltered, president Joan Laporta wasted no time deciding who would lead the club out of its slump. Since Lionel Messi’s emotional exit in August 2021 — a departure tangled in the financial scandals left behind by former president Josep Maria Bartomeu — Barcelona had lost more than just its talisman. Domestically, they surrendered ground to bitter rivals Real Madrid; in Europe, they had fallen from the elite. The style, swagger and success of the Messi era had become little more than a fading memory.

Laporta, who had returned to power in March 2021 after a triumphant first stint from 2003 to 2010, knew exactly who could restore Barcelona’s stature: Hansi Flick. So convinced was Laporta of Flick’s ability that mere days after parting ways with Xavi — a club icon who had delivered a La Liga title but battled inconsistency though no fault of his own — he moved swiftly to install the German in the Camp Nou hot seat.

“Since Xavi said he was leaving, Hansi has been studying the squad and seeing how to use these players. When we decided that Xavi was not continuing, (Director of Football) Deco and Bojan (Krkic, Football Coordinator) met with him. He is very excited, he is calm, responsible, mature… He gave us peace of mind that this is going to go well. I told him where he was coming, to a club that is more than a club, owned by its members, so that he understood our way of seeing life. He gives me a good feeling,” Laporta had told a Spanish publication weeks after Flick’s appointment.

The good feeling Laporta was talking about was not just the success Flick had enjoyed in his managerial career but the manner in which he achieved them. Following a modest playing career, the now 60-year-old took up coaching way back in 1996 with Victoria Bammental. He gradually worked his way up before getting his big break as an assistant to Germany head coach Joachim Loew from August 2006 till the end of the 2014 World Cup where the Die Mannschaft triumphed for a fourth time.

All that he learned under Loew, Flick was able to unleash it in full fury when he took charge of German powerhouse Bayern Munich (2019-2021) where he won a historic sextuple in 2020. That automatically earned him a promotion to the national team in 2021 but following a turbulent two-year reign he was sacked.

While the stay with the national team was bitter, his methods employed at Bayern Munich where he turned a well-oiled machine into a ruthless winning force with his high-octane methods is what endeared Laporta and other decision makers of Barcelona. His teams dominated possession, played with a high off-side line, were more direct when presented with chances, ruthless in finishing them and barely dropped in intensity. Opponents could hardly catch a breath as his industrious players, working with clockwork precision, simply bullied them into submission.

Flick was also great at moulding youth into his system. He did it at Bayern and Germany and considering Barcelona had a handful of them graduating from their famous La Masia academy, he fitted the bill easily. Plus he was great in engaging with superstars, knowing exactly when to massage their ego and when to hold a mirror. And he had a proven track record with big teams too.

Despite his glowing resume there were suspicions initially but Flick has cast all of them aside in turning Barcelona into an irresistible force that is gunning for four titles (the first one, the Copa del Rey final against Madrid is scheduled on Saturday night). They are four points ahead of Madrid in the La Liga title race with five games left and are also in the semifinals of the Champions League where they take on Inter Milan. All the factors that have defined Flick’s style are visible in this new Barcelona that has been taking apart teams, especially the top ones like Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund with ruthless ease.

They press really high with their defence almost starting at the midfield irrespective of the opponents, move the ball around really swiftly, aren’t scared of losing possession as players track back instantly to recover it, are quick to pounce on a chance moment they sight it, are tactically astute to alter plans in case things don’t go as intended. The Catalans simply play with the hand brakes off the full 90 minutes. It's a joy to watch and they just keep giving and giving, although not for the line up against them. It’s almost close to tiki-taka — the famed Barcelona quick and short-passing style — but a lot more industrious and efficient.

The fundamental reason behind Flick’s instant success at Barcelona is because of the smashing form of the front three comprising Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal with the latter, just 17 years of age, drawing comparisons with the great Messi for displaying talent beyond his age. Flick has been the right tutor for the wunderkind Yamal while veteran Lewandowski, who worked with the German at Bayern, has looked like the old mean goalscoring machine he was famed for. And Raphinha? There was little doubt about the Brazilian’s raw talent but he needed someone to direct him and Flick has been the right man to extract the most out of him.

Flick also has several other artists in his eye-catching play. At the heart — the midfield — are Pedri and Frenkie de Jong who provide the creative spark. Jules Kounde and Joao Cancelo deliver the speed and width across the wings while Pau Cubarsi and Ronald Araujo are the defensive rocks, providing the shield for the high-pressing to proceed without fear. Veteran Ilkay Gundogan, once the beating heart of Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, is like the X-factor.

Although they are a true joy to watch when on song, like the three thrashings they handed out to Madrid or the demolition of Dortmund in the Champions League first-leg quarterfinals, there have been moments when they’ve looked fallible owing to the high-risk high-reward strategy. But even in those moments, they’ve always found a way to score one more than their opponents.

For all style and swagger Flick has reinstalled at Barcelona that has seen many pundits call them the best team in Spain, he’s yet to lay his hands on silverware. He could get an opportunity on Saturday night and possibly more over the next month. And if he can sustain it for a considerable period of time like Frank Rijkaard or Guardiola, Project Rebuild will be complete at Catalunya.