Barcelona Is Bigger Than I Imagined – Says Hansi Flick

Barcelona coach, Hansi Flick, has said the club is even bigger than he imagined after he was officially presented on Thursday, almost two months after his appointment was confirmed.

Flick replaced Xavi Hernández at the end of May and took over a Barça side that failed to win a trophy last season.

Nevertheless, he feels enthusiastic about what he has observed since assuming the position and asserts that he is prepared for the pressure expectations that accompany the role.

“I could feel it from first second, this is an unbelievable club,” the former Bayern Munich and Germany coach said. “It is an amazing club, very big, bigger than I imagined.

“For me, it’s one of the biggest clubs, maybe the biggest club. To win titles, you can only really win with the biggest clubs, which is why I am here.

“I am not saying we will win every title, but if we work hard we can achieve and have options to be successful. We know hard work and results count, nothing else, but I am looking forward to this.”

Flick on his playing style

Barça president, Joan Laporta has previously said that “losing has consequences” and, in addition to winning trophies, there are also demands on Flick to play a certain style of attacking football.

Hansi Flick with Rafa Yuste, Laporta and Deco during his presentation

“This is my job, I am the coach of Barça and I know what happens,” he said when asked if he was ready for the pressure that will follow when the new La Liga season gets underway with a trip to Valencia on Aug. 17.

“[The aim is] to play well, of course, but also to give everything on the pitch and be well prepared. The players have to show how it works on the pitch. For me, you must give 100% in training.

“I am not far away from the idea Barça played before when they had this unbelievable success with [Johan] Cruyff or Pep [Guardiola]. I want a team on the pitch that is active, with the ball and without the ball, dictating the rhythm of the play.”

Flick injury challenges

Flick has faced challenges during the preseason preparation due to the late return of players from this summer’s major tournaments, such as the European Championship and Copa América, while are currently participating in the Olympic Games.

Additionally, there has been a range of injuries to manage. Gavi and Frenkie de Jong have been out since last season, while Pedri and Ronald Araújo encountered issues while representing their national teams this month.

The latest setback came on Wednesday when Ansu Fati, who has returned from a season-long loan with Premier League side Brighton, injured his foot in training, ruling him out of the tour of the United States, where Barça will play Manchester City, Real Madrid and AC Milan.

“The situation with the injured players, it’s a pity,” Flick said. “Ansu, in the first days, was unbelievable. He was fit; showed it on the pitch and in [fitness] training.

“It’s not good to not have him in America. But we have to accept this. We will help him to come back stronger.”

The lack of available first-team players has allowed Flick to focus on developing some of the club’s in-house talent from La Masia, the renowned youth academy.

“Thank you for La Masia, to work with these players is a lot of fun,” he said. “The quality, the intensity they have… and always focused on what we are doing.

“Hopefully we can bring players from La Masia into the first team. The whole world looks to La Masia and speaks about how fantastic is the job with the young players now I can see it.

“They work so hard; they have very good quality. They also have to improve, of course, it’s not like they are now on the [highest] level, but the basics are fantastic. It’s not fair to give names, but there are many interesting players.”

Flick hails Euro 2024 young player of the tournament Lamine Yamal 

One La Masia graduate that Flick has not yet had the opportunity to work with is Lamine Yamal, who is currently on holiday after helping Spain secure victory at Euro 2024.

Lamine Yamal with UEFA EURO 2024 trophy and young player of the tournament award

While he will miss the U.S. tour, Flick has already reached out to him, texting during the Euros, and has praised his performances in Germany.

“He has done a great job in the last year, he improved a lot and he’s now, step by step, at this level,” he said of Yamal, who only turned 17 earlier this month.

“Also what he did in the Euros, it was unbelievable. But big players also continue to bring their performances [up] and it’s necessary for him now to stay with both feet on the ground.

“He’s a great guy. I have been able to speak with him. He can give us great moments, but he also can improve and make things better, this is also our part, but he’s in a very fantastic way.”

Flick on Barcelona transfer plans for new season

Flick refused to discuss potential signings when inquired about the club’s interest in Athletic Club forward, Nico Williams and the need for a defensive midfielder. He also refrained from commenting on Sergi Roberto’s situation.

Barcelona are pushing for Nico Williams and also Dani Olmo

Roberto, Barça’s captain last season, has been without a club since his contract expired on June 30.

“At the moment, he is not a player from Barça,” was Flick’s limited response on a possible new deal.

Laporta sitting next to Flick, conveyed a more positive outlook, once again expressing his confidence that Barça will be able to afford the deals being reported in the media despite being in excess of their LaLiga-imposed spending limit as things stand.

The Barça president said there will be news on financial agreements “soon,” and that talks are progressing well over a new agreement with kit supplier Nike.

Barcelona’s priorities this summer are the signing of winger Williams, who has a €58 million ($63m) release clause, and another midfielder.