Five things to expect from Hansi Flick’s Barcelona in the new season

A massive season stands ahead of Hansi Flick’s Barcelona. After a trophy-less campaign last time around, the team is under pressure to make the new term count and a new management gives fans reason to maintain hope. 

Flick’s arrival was always going to be a stark change for the Blaugrana, especially given their history of preferring managers with a history at the club. Bringing a foreign figure is thus a gamble, but perhaps a necessary one for the dressing room.

The Joan Gamper Trophy did not go as expected for the men in garnet and blue as they slumped to a massive defeat to AS Monaco.

They take to the field tomorrow night for their first official game of the season and there is tangible curiosity over what changes one can expect in the team.

Barça Universal brings you five aspects of the team’s play that can see alterations under the new manager.

Improved physical presence

A large part of Barcelona’s on-field struggles in big games has been linked to their poor physical preparation.

The sub-par fitness regime directly contributed to the team’s poor injury record, and Xavi’s side last season saw large stretches with several key players regularly missing from action.

Concurrently, however, it also led to the team tiring out quickly on the field and struggling through the closing stages of games. Unable to maintain steam, the Catalans regularly fizzled out of energy and fell prey to opposition pressure despite making strong starts to games.

Hansi Flick, however, made it clear from his first training session that he seriously prioritises his team’s physical preparation. Turning the clock back to his days at Bayern Munich, in fact, paints a clear picture of what fitness means to the new coach.

The first change one can expect in Barcelona this season, thus, is improved stamina, fitness and energy through the ninety minutes on the field.

Enhanced pressure off the ball

Despite being well past their glory days, Barcelona are still one of the best teams in possession in world football. The issue, for long, has been their ability off the ball.

Xavi Hernandez attempted to improve the team on that aspect and was successful to some extent, especially after youngsters stepped up. While they often began games well, however, the pressure simply did not sustain beyond the initial stages.

With Flick improving the physical fitness, a direct effect may be seen as improved pressure of the ball. Working as a collective and pressing with numbers, the Blaugrana can instantly improve their results if the manager can pull it off.

Trust in youth players

Xavi’s Barcelona was special for a multitude of reasons. While the team did not achieve the titles the administration would have hoped for, however, the club legend’s legacy as a manager will go down simply for the faith he displayed in young stars.

Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Pau Cubarsi and Hector Fort are some of the young names the coach trusted and made regulars during his time at the club and there was serious worry that the arrival of Flick would reduce the limelight on La Masia.

The German tactician, interestingly, has shown great interest in the academy and is a massive advocate of giving youngsters chances. While indeed he values experience, he is closely following the growth of academy stars and is not one to shy away from giving them chances.

Flick’s Barcelona, thus, will likely continue to see trust being bestowed on young stars. Marc Bernal, Unai Hernandez and Toni Fernandez are a few to keep an eye on.

Dominant full-backs

Flick’s arrival in Catalonia changes many aspects of the team’s dynamics, the most important of which is the deviation from the traditional Barcelona way.

The former Bayern Munich manager has always been a fan of deploying attacking full-backs to build numbers in the final third and the best example of this is the transformation of Alphonso Davies.

Going by the same pattern, Alejandro Balde could thus become one of the team’s most important players in the final third and will play a far more attacking role than he did in the previous version of the team. The spotlight, needless to say, will shine on the academy star.

A similar outcome can be expected at right-back as well although that will depend on whether or not the Catalans sign Joao Cancelo this summer.

Psychological boost

Barcelona’s biggest enemy in recent years has been their own mentality and it is no secret at this point in time.

The scars of the past weigh heavily on the current team and the pressure heading into big games is simply too much for the young and relatively fragile core.

Last season, Barcelona appeared set to defeat PSG in the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League but spoilt their chances under pressure owing to an unnecessary individual error.

While new signings can indeed improve the sporting quality, there is an immediate need to simultaneously improve the mental aspect of the dressing room.

Flick’s appointment could go a long way in helping the team get back into the champions mentality that defined the club a decade ago.

Known for his headstrong opinions, brutal honesty and high standards, the new coach is the perfect candidate to build and develop a winning habit and restore confidence in the collective.