Hansi Flick, the alchemist of Barcelona

On a terrace at Barcelona's Turó Park, Hansi Flick celebrated, eating fried eggs, that Barcelona was on the verge of lifting its 28th La Liga title after beating Real Madrid in the fourth Clásico of the season. He also celebrated that he now has more arguments to renew his contract, which currently binds him to the club until June 2026, until 2027. Year by year. He's already told it. His philosophy of life drives him to live in the immediate present. At 60, he knows better than anyone that the world of football is volatile, ambitious, and not prone to living off memories. Although within the club—especially president Joan Laporta—this season will hardly be forgotten.

"We haven't seen someone so powerful in every sense since Guardiola," senior club officials admit when asked about the coach. The first references came from Ralf Rangnick, the current Austrian national team coach, whom Laporta invited to lunch after reading an interview with him while at Manchester United. In it, the Austrian spoke highly of Johan Cruyff and the impact he left on the world of football.

"Since Guardiola, we haven't seen someone so powerful in every sense," acknowledge senior club officials.

Rangnick is also a leading figure in German football, known for his innovative tactical approach and his role in transforming Bundesliga clubs such as Hoffenheim – whom he led from the third division to the top flight in just two seasons – and RB Leipzig, where he served as coach and sporting director, playing a crucial role in their qualification for the Champions League .

Ralf Rangnick, current Austrian coach, gave Laporta his first references to the German.

Laporta and I spoke about several coaches from the German school, and Rangnick advised him that, between Klopp, Nagelsmann, and Tuchel, Flick was the most complete. Because, in addition to the German methodology—which he masters like the rest—Flick adds a sensitivity that could make the difference. The term Rangnick used to define him was emotional intelligence.

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The rest is already known. While he was moving away from Xavi Hernández, Laporta asked Deco and Bojan to travel to London to meet with Flick and assess his profile. At that meeting, both emissaries found a coach who had done his homework: a folder with all the players analyzed, their characteristics broken down, and a genuine interest in working with youth players and getting to know La Masia . And most importantly: Flick firmly believed that the foundation of the project was very good. The signing was simple, taking advantage of the fact that his agent is Pini Zahavi, a close friend of the president. Flick has fallen on good terms with a dressing room that believes deeply in him. With the balance provided by his German "left hand" and a rather Mediterranean sensibility, the coach has forged a relationship with his players based on trust and hard work.

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He's known how to punish latecomers, like Koundé; he's helped Lamine Yamal mature; he's brought back Lewandowski and Raphinha, who have experienced an unthinkable explosion a year ago; he's made Pedri shine and found the key with De Jong, a star who had lost his way. He's also worked with substitutes like Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia, Fermín, and Gavi to make them feel part of the group. He hasn't hesitated to activate a high defense and offside controls with Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, and Balde, with whom he has met several times to practice what he was looking for.

Nor was he afraid of changing goalkeepers, as happened mid-season with the overthrow of Iñaki Peña and Szczesny. But what the club values ​​most is the fact that he's given opportunities to Bernal, Casadó, Fort, and Gerard Martín. If the work is done well, the doors to the first team are open. He's also known how to calm Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor when they were struggling with their transfers and acted as a mental health coach when the team lost in the Champions League.

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He works on everything with a coaching staff that supports and reinforces him, because Flick never tires of repeating that his is a team effort, removed from the work of the management, who no longer frequent the training ground. With his calm demeanor, Flick protects the inner workings of his locker room and is clear about what he wants to explain and what codes should remain internal. He is learning Spanish to better communicate with the squad, although some within the club advise him not to speak it in public to avoid unnecessary confrontations.

Flick's methodology and emotional intelligence have connected with the club, the players and the fans.

Outside the club, Flick has spoken with Xavi Hernández, whom he thanked for his work with the youth players. He also enjoys Barcelona and its cuisine with his wife, Silke, to whom he has been married for 38 years. He also enjoys spending time with his daughters and grandchildren when they visit. Nevertheless, a Barcelona fan base that has reconnected with the team congratulates him while watching him stroll or eat eggs at Turó Park.