Flick engineers Barcelona s attacking renaissance with flair and fortitude

BARCELONA - German manager Hansi Flicks tactical acumen was crucial to guide Barcelona to their 28th Spanish league title that they claimed on Thursday when they beat city rivals Espanyol 1-0, securing an unassailable seven-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid with two games left to play.

The remarkable LaLiga and Copa del Rey double marks a surprising turnaround for Barcelona, considering the turbulence on and off the pitch when Flick replaced Xavi Hernandez as manager a year ago.

The German tactician, who was sacked as German national team coach in September 2023 following a string of defeats, has orchestrated a renaissance that transcends mere results.

In a season where Barcelona have scored an astonishing 95 goals in 35 league matches – 23 more than Real – Flick has reintroduced attacking verve to a club that treats entertaining football as religion.

Flick was tasked with reviving Barcelonas fortunes after the Catalan side failed to win any trophies in Xavi’s last season, with their on-field struggles exacerbated by turmoil off the pitch, including deepening financial problems and a refereeing scandal that could drag on for years in Spanish justice.

Flick inherited a squad of highly talented players who were eager to prove their value amid the club’s off pitch struggles. He was instrumental in blocking the outside noise, shielding the changing room with a stick to football mentality.

The players embraced the relentless work ethic and intensity Flick brought to the club, turning negative vibe around the club into motivation.

Weve always thought positively and we could feel it looking at training sessions. At Barça you have to win titles and three titles (LaLiga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup) is just great, Flick told Movistar Plus on Thursday.

Its always important to be mentally strong. That is what we looked