Hansi Flick continues to be the man with the golden touch in Spanish football.
After defeating Real Madrid, again, in the Supercopa, he continues an impressive winning streak across all domestic competitions.
For better or for worse, he is a man who stays true to who he is, and is able to block out the noise of criticism when it hits.
The last time Barcelona and Real Madrid met, it should be noted, Hansi Flick was suspended. Even though Barcelona lost, he can still say he is undefeated against Los Blancos
when he is on the sideline.
It’s incredible the way he’s dealt with the pressure that comes with the job of being Barca boss. That ability, in large part, explains his success.
Of course, the Spanish Supercopa is not the trophy that Barcelona aspires to win. But given the new format, and how it now falls in the middle of the calendar, it has become a barometer of where the team is at, and serves as a big momentum boost as they head into the crunch time of the season.
The fact that, more times than not, they have to beat Real Madrid to raise the trophy, makes it even more significant. You would hate to see the picture of your rivals celebrating at your expense.
Hansi Flick is made for the big moments. He is calm and confident, even while anxiety grows around him, and that attitude is contagious for his players in the locker room. Even as momentum swings, Barcelona, since Flick arrived, is not a team that panics and collapses.
Real Madrid ended the first half with a surprise turnaround, brought about by a heroic individual run down the field by Vinicius Junior. That led to the chaos of two tit for tat goals in extra time.
Outside of those moments, you’d have to say that Barcelona controlled the first half. Flick made the correct lineup selections, which included the hard choice of dropping Ferran Torres for Robert Lewandowski. Barcelona had possession, the majority of chances, while for the most part keeping Real Madrid at bay.
Going into the second half, the wind was not at their backs, but Barca were steady and patient, and eventually the moment of truth arrived behind a trademark finish by Raphinha via his typical inner determination. Winning isn’t always going to be pretty, but champions find a way.
With all that being said, Flick knows how much he needs Raphinha for his system to work. It’s not a coincidence that Barcelona’s best stretch of the season has come right after his return to the lineup.
Regardless, Flick has said he’s not going to change the system, even when the results aren’t going his way. He trusts his players to figure it out.
For now, no one can question him. He has silenced the doubters, myself included. I’ve been skeptical of the tactics in the past, and even wondered if Barcelona had been found out in year two under Flick.
Ultimately, the coach and his team will be judged by what they can accomplish in La Liga and the Champions League. That’s just how it is at Barcelona.
But winning the Spanish Supercopa was a big test, and they past it with flying colors. Not only did they win the competition, they did it by putting in stellar performances against Athletic Club and Real Madrid.
For that, once again, we have to give Hansi Flick his flowers. The manager has been a blessing for Barcelona since the day he arrived.
