Five key questions that Hansi Flick must find answers to before season starts

With a pre-season trip to the US just around the corner, Hansi Flick only has a few weeks to sort out Barcelona’s key problems before the new season starts.

During the pre-season camp so far, the German tactician has taken a closer look at players. He has been particularly impressed with the performances of La Masia starlets, but these youngsters could face a tougher challenge in the weeks to come.

In this article, we will discuss five key questions Hansi Flick must address before the new season starts.

What will be Barcelona’s formation?

Soon after Hansi Flick’s appointment as the head coach, it was almost given that the German will tinker with Barcelona’s iconic 4-3-3 formation.

Flick, after all, is known for his 4-2-3-1 setup that is fluid and direct, as opposed to Barcelona’s more positional approach.

Not to mention, Barcelona’s woes in midfield could further convince Flick to settle for his 4-2-3-1 setup, which would accommodate an additional attacker that can offer more creativity in the final third.

How will Barcelona deal with midfield injuries?

Speaking of midfield, Hansi Flick faces a precarious situation, with the trusted trio of Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Gavi currently nursing from their respective injuries.

Keeping that in mind, how well Barcelona can respond to midfield injuries could go a long way in dictating the fate of the team next season.

Hansi Flick, to that end, must step up and formulate a plan without too much reliance on this midfield trifecta. The up-and-coming La Masia stars, coupled with a new signing, therefore, could be the need of the hour.

Who will serve as the centre-backs?

Barcelona’s defensive problems were accentuated by Ronald Araujo’s injury during Copa America earlier this summer.

The Uruguayan has undergone surgery and has been ruled out for at least four months, leaving Barcelona devoid of options in the centre-back unit.

One can expect Pau Cubarsi to continue playing a key role, but he too is currently away at the Olympics and might not be ready to start the season if Spain go deep in the competition.

As such, there is a big question about who will be the starting centre-back pairing for Barcelona with Flick having to choose between Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, Eric Garcia and potentially Inigo Martinez, who is still not registered.

Ronald Araujo’s injury has complicated things in defence (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Who will play as a right-back?

One of Barcelona’s key weak points heading into the new season is the lack of depth in the full-back department.

The end of Joao Cancelo’s loan spell and uncertainties surrounding his return, coupled with Sergi Roberto’s departure has left Barcelona without any viable option in the right-back position.

Flick boasts the services of Kounde, but there is a possibility the Frenchman could be moved to his preferred centre-back position next season as mentioned earlier.

This leaves Barcelona with the young Hector Fort and the returning Julian Araujo as only two options. And Barcelona could be in deep trouble if both of them fail to step up to the plate.

What will the attack look like?

Moving into the attacking department, Hansi Flick may have a huge problem on his hands if top target Nico Williams refuses a move to Barcelona this summer.

The Spaniard is soon expected to make a decision on his future, with Barcelona and PSG emerging as two possible destinations.

If Nico does join Barça, he is likely to partner Lamine Yamal on the flanks and offer support to star striker Robert Lewandowski.

However, in the event, Nico doesn’t join Barcelona, the Catalans will have to make do with the underperforming duo of Raphinha and Ferran Torres, two players who have been linked with a move elsewhere this summer.

Therefore, how well Flick manages to set up the attacking unit heading into the new season will be a telling factor.