FC Barcelona, under Hansi Flick, has been a joy to watch so far. Despite not having all of his first-team players at his disposal and still waiting for several key injured superstars to recover, the German manager has led his team to play scintillating football.
After two and a half seasons of pragmatism and strict positional play under Xavi, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona has been fluid and dynamic. The team has showcased free-flowing attacking football, scoring 28 goals in nine La Liga games.
Now, a recent report from Mundo Deportivo highlights four Barcelona players who have significantly improved under Hansi Flick: Iñigo Martínez, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Pedri. Surely, the numbers don’t lie when it comes to this.
After a difficult season at Barcelona last year, Lewandowski has returned to his best under Flick. With 12 goals in 11 games across all competitions so far, the Polish veteran is averaging more than one goal per game, achieving some of the best numbers in Europe.
Unlike the 36-year-old’s performances, Inigo Martinez’s gameplay cannot be depicted by numbers. He has been a leader in the backline and has adapted his game to Hansi Flick’s high-line style. His distribution is a joy to watch.
Pedri is another player who has stepped up after a challenging couple of seasons. He serves as the heartbeat of Hansi Flick’s team, orchestrating play from midfield. He frequently finds himself in goalscoring positions, having scored two goals and provided two assists so far.
Now, turning to Raphinha, the captain who has undergone the most significant transformation of all, he has rediscovered his Leeds United form and even surpassed it. He has scored six goals and provided five assists across all competitions. It’s time to discuss his status as one of the best wingers in the world at the moment.
Flick has done an incredible job of getting the best out of these four players and will want to keep doing so going forward. Let’s wait and see if the German coach can make these players continue the good work and get us results in the important games after the international break. With the likes of Gavi set to return, things can only get better, and let’s see how it goes.
