Hansi Flick has engineered a remarkable start as Barcelona manager, with recent victories over Bayern Munich and Real Madrid thrilling fans and positioning the Blaugrana as serious contenders this season in both La Liga and UEFA Champions League.
Flick is highly regarded by fans, players, staff, and club executives alike, and everything seems to be going his way. However, previous Barça managers have seen promising starts unravel under pressure when results faltered. The role of Barça manager is notoriously challenging, as Pep Guardiola highlighted in an interview this week, a reminder to Flick of the pressures he may face if success wavers and the intense mix of politics and expectations begins to mount.
“The toughest job, by a long shot. In other places, you get hit by opponents, but in Barcelona, the most painful hits are those that come from within the club itself. It has always been like this and it will always be like this. Trying to change that would be a big mistake. We have to live with this dynamic because it is part of the club’s identity that makes it unique.” Guardiola said.
“It’s a great club. We were winning the league and the cup for many years, and the club was considered a failure because we were out of the Champions League semi-finals. In Barcelona, there are a number of wars and you have to choose, which war will I fight? You will be wrong if you fight a useless war, a big mistake.” he added.
Guardiola managed what many consider one of the greatest teams ever, with stars like Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernández, and Andrés Iniesta. His Barcelona, known for its “tiki-taka” style of possession play, captivated fans and overwhelmed opponents. This seamless fusion of individual talent and a unified system propelled the team to an extraordinary level of success.
The historic triumphs in 2009, where they achieved the coveted sextuple, and in 2011, with an unforgettable Champions League victory over Manchester United, are just a few highlights of their dominance. Guardiola’s tenure not only redefined Barcelona’s success but also left a lasting mark on global football.
In an interview with TV3, Guardiola reflected on his departure from Barcelona, discussing the club’s model, the team currently leading La Liga under Hansi Flick, and his era at the institution he transformed. He noted that his departure wasn’t solely due to tension with Messi and his teammates but also the intense strain of managing in such a high-stakes environment.
Perhaps Flick is unfazed by the surrounding drama and this season is set to be a dream regardless of external pressures. But if a three-game winless streak hits at any point, things could take a challenging turn for the German.
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Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
