Hansi Flick identifies two major flaws in Barcelona’s pre-season games

FC Barcelona overcame Manchester City and Real Madrid in their opening games of the US pre-season tour, allowing Hansi Flick to kickstart the new era on a strong footing.

Several positives emerged from the opening two games. Many young players seized their opportunities with impressive performances, and the team has demonstrated a strong sense of cohesion.

However, Flick is eager to avoid complacency at any cost. In fact, the German aims to uphold the highest standards for both the squad and himself. He has meticulously identified areas needing improvement after these two matches on American soil.

Two facets Flick frowns upon

Now, Mundo Deportivo has highlighted two flaws that Flick has identified and intends to work on.

Following both the Manchester City match and the Clasico, Flick voiced his dissatisfaction in press conferences about his team’s tendency to defend too deep, often almost on the edge of the six-yard box.

Flick has identified two key areas that needs to be improved upon. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

This issue had been a recurring theme during Xavi’s tenure as well, with the Catalan giants instinctively going on the back foot after taking the lead, especially in big games.

Moreover, Flick wants the team to improve Barcelona’s ball circulation, ensuring quicker and more fluid progression in attacking situations.

While Flick is pleased with the speed and clarity of transitions, he believes static ball circulation needs significant improvement.

After all, the former Bayern Munich coach is known for implementing a high-voltage and vertical style of play. Thiago Alcantara is reportedly crucial in addressing this during training.

Flick also aims to reduce dangerous turnovers and disorganization, like the one seen in the final minutes of the Clasico, where a defensive error nearly led to a costly mistake.

These are mostly errors associated with Barcelona last season, so Flick’s awareness to detect these flaws is a positive sign of his managerial expertise.