PA Media/DPA
London
New Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick said he will aim to emulate the playing styles made famous at the club by Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola as he spoke publicly for the first time since replacing former boss Xavi.
The 59-year-old, who was appointed in May to his first managerial role since leading Germany to a group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup, hailed the work done by Barca’s La Masia academy in producing players to enable the club to continue to pursue their distinctive attacking football.
The team finished second in La Liga last season, 10 points behind champions Real Madrid, and were eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, a return that ultimately led to the dismissal of Xavi after two and a half years in charge.
Flick promised he would seek a return to the kind of fluid offensive play that brought the club their most celebrated periods of success.
“I am not far off the idea of play that Barça have used with success under Cruyff and Guardiola,” he said at his unveiling. “My idea is to have a team that are always active on the field.
“It doesn’t matter what the formation is. I want to my team to play well and for all to see that they are giving everything.”
Under Cruyff, Barca were crowned champions four seasons in a row from 1991 to 1994 as well as lifting their first-ever European Cup in 1992.
His time in charge, which lasted until 1996, saw a then 19-year-old Guardiola brought into the first team.
The Catalan would go on to add two Champions League trophies and a further three La Liga titles after being appointed head coach in 2008, using a side made up largely of academy graduates including Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi.
“I am really thankful for the work done at La Masia,” said Flick. “We have some marvellous young players who want to give everything for the club. I want to create the ideal atmosphere for these youngsters to develop. They have a lot of quality.” Barça were champions under Xavi in his first full season in charge in 2023 before falling away and failing to mount a sustained title challenge during the following campaign as Real won the league at a canter.
“The situation at Barcelona is fantastic for the players’ development,” said Flick. “Everyone has to do their bit to reach our objectives.
“The whole squad has to work hard. We are working on the physical and tactical side. We have to improve in lots of ways and we are trying to create a team with a solid defence, as that is important to play well in attack.” Defenders Alejandro Balde and Julian Araujo are fit and have returned to training ahead of the team’s United States tour.
Balde featured 28 times for Barça last season while Araujo spent the campaign on loan at Las Palmas.
