Spanish Media Praises Flick: He is Barca’s Best Signing This Season, Revitalizing Multiple Stars in the Team

After Barcelona’s 7-0 victory over Valladolid in this round of La Liga, Spain’s Marca newspaper praised coach Hansi Flick.

Marca noted that when he joined, it was without much fanfare, and the club even waited a month before officially announcing his appointment as team manager. During this time, there was little known about what this new German coach, who was replacing Xavi, had in mind. Barcelona wanted to protect him from media intrusion, and in fact, Flick had been working behind the scenes with Deco to build the squad.

The club faced many restrictions due to financial fair play rules, which posed a significant challenge for Flick. However, the German coach gradually introduced his tactical system, creating a team that won all four of their opening league games, demonstrating strong competitiveness. Last weekend, Barcelona defeated Valladolid 7-0, with Flick’s name echoing around the stands at Camp Nou, making fans proud once again.

Flick’s coaching style is evident, bringing changes that have rejuvenated Barcelona. He has restored confidence in key players, improved the team’s physical condition, maintained a good relationship with the media, and acted according to the club’s instructions, ensuring everything runs smoothly. For Barcelona, Flick’s arrival has been like a gift from heaven.

One of his important tasks was to revitalize Lewandowski’s form. It should be noted that Xavi had hoped this Polish striker would leave. However, Flick took a more cautious approach. Having coached Lewandowski at Bayern Munich, he knew the player well. Flick reinstilled confidence in Lewandowski, giving him a leadership role and placing him in his best position—in the box. As an excellent finisher, Lewandowski needs quality passes, and when he gets them, he always takes his chances. With four goals in four games, Lewandowski currently leads the La Liga scoring charts, showcasing his top-class striking ability.

Raphinha’s improvement is also evident. Flick believes Raphinha can take on a midfield role in many matches. The Brazilian star displayed his best form, outperforming opponents’ defenders with his physical prowess in the game against Valladolid, completing his first career hat-trick. Additionally, he gained confidence, became one of the team captains, and took charge of communicating with referees. It can be said that Raphinha has become a significant “signing” for Barcelona.

The enhancement in the team’s physical condition is noticeable. From day one, the German coach emphasized this point, as the team lacked in this area last season. He knew that without adequate fitness, they couldn’t compete with top teams. The players responded positively. Barcelona always showed strong physical superiority in the second half, securing victories.

Another aspect that pleased the fans is Flick’s trust in young players. From the start, he indicated he would rely heavily on La Masia academy players. In the first four games, he gave four young players their debuts. For a foreign coach, such trust in young players is particularly commendable. These young players have repaid Flick’s faith with their performances, especially Casado and Bernal. Unfortunately, Bernal suffered a serious injury.