Barcelona introduced the appointment of Hansi Flick as their new coach on Wednesday, signing him to a contract till June 30, 2026, following the dismissal of Xavi Hernandez final week.
“FC Barcelona and Hansi Flick have reached an agreement for the German to become men’s first-team football coach until June 30, 2026,” mentioned the membership in a press release.
In late April, Barcelona president Joan Laporta expressed deep satisfaction in retaining Xavi Hernandez as coach for the upcoming season.
However, by the tip of May, Laporta made a stunning transfer by dismissing the previous Barcelona midfield legend and appointing German coach Hansi Flick in his place.
Since his reelection in March 2021, Laporta’s management has lacked a transparent plan, relying as an alternative on instinct. While instinct has its deserves, it is probably not sufficient to maintain the membership’s success.
Selling off areas of the membership and compromising future earnings to lift instant funds for heavy switch funding, Laporta opted for a get-success-quick technique, with restricted outcomes.
Barcelona gained the 2022/23 La Liga title for the primary time since 2019, however they’ve nonetheless struggled in Europe. This season every thing fell to items, with Real Madrid storming to La Liga glory and Barcelona ending the marketing campaign trophyless.
“It’s fantastic news that Xavi is staying – the team we have, which is growing with many young talents, needs this stability,” mentioned Laporta, weeks earlier than performing a spectacular U-turn.
Xavi, for his half, didn’t mince his phrases in regards to the challenges that confronted Flick. “You will suffer – this is a very complicated place to be,” Xavi warned his successor.
Barcelona’s “entorno” – every thing swirling across the membership that will increase stress, from the media to the followers, to loose-lipped administrators and former gamers chipping in – will keep the identical. However, in hiring Flick, the membership’s course has modified.
The majority of their coaches have performed for Barcelona – Xavi, Ronald Koeman, Luis Enrique, Pep Guardiola, amongst others. Flick, however, has by no means performed or coached in Spain, not to mention on the membership itself. The 59-year-old’s best success was main Bayern Munich to a sextuple in 2020, together with an 8-2 humiliation of Barcelona, however he struggled with the German nationwide crew, changing into their first coach ever to be sacked.
Barca’s sporting director, Deco, warned in February that Barcelona ought to transfer away from their conventional “tiki-taka” fashion. “The president agrees with me on this, a deep change is needed – there is a method that is worn-out,” he mentioned.
Deep change
Flick’s fashion is attacking however extra direct than Barcelona normally try to play, with extra crossing. The coach can be joyful to work with Ilkay Gundogan, whom he appointed Germany captain, and Robert Lewandowski, a key participant in his triumphant Bayern Munich facet.
He boasts teaching expertise that Xavi lacked, having solely labored at Al-Sadd in Qatar earlier than taking the reins at Camp Nou. Flick tends to arrange in a 4-2-3-1 formation, slightly than Barcelona’s 4-3-3, though they don’t seem to be far eliminated.
The membership’s monetary difficulties can be a key think about whether or not the German can enhance Barcelona’s fortunes. After pivot Sergio Busquets left, Barcelona didn’t adequately exchange him, unable to afford Xavi’s fundamental goal, Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi.
With new champions and rivals Real Madrid set to signal Paris Saint-Germain famous person Kylian Mbappe, maintaining with Los Blancos can be a tough activity for any coach.
Source: www.dailysabah.com