It has been about four months since Hansi Flick took over as the head coach of FC Barcelona. The German coach was out of a job when the Catalan club appointed him, replacing club legend Xavi Hernandez.
These first few months under Flick in the new season have been as good as honeymoon periods get. Barcelona are nearly perfect in both the league and the Champions League, having lost just two games—both under unusual circumstances.
Not many envisioned the kind of impact the German coach would have on this young team. It’s not like he had an unbelievable transfer window either; however, the only signing they made—Dani Olmo—has proven to be a game-changer.
As the plaudits continue to flow in from all directions for Hansi Flick, it has now emerged, according to SPORT quoting Filippo Galli, that the German coach visited several coaches during his break to observe their methods. In particular, he visited then-Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi twice.
De Zerbi, at Brighton, was famous for playing a very high line and it looks like Flick wanted to equip himself before joining Barcelona. Here is what Galli had to say: “I know De Zerbi well, and I know that Flick went twice to watch him work before arriving at Barça.”
The Italian coach wasn’t Flick’s only inspiration, who is said to have been impressed by the legendary AC Milan team that Galli was a part of. The legendary defender also had something to say about that:
“I’m very pleased that Flick was impressed with our team when he was at Bayern, because that Milan team not only won but also inspired, bringing pure emotion.”
Galli’s words reflect the effort Flick put into improving himself as a coach after his difficult stint with the German national team. This dedication is now evident in his time at Barcelona, where Flick’s team plays one of the highest defensive lines in European football and executes it with aplomb.
It bodes well for Barcelona that Flick is a coach willing to learn and adapt. There will be hurdles along the way and this adaptability would help the German coach find a way out of it. Let’s wait and see how his time at Barcelona pans out.
