A consensus of respect and appreciation seems to be established among Barcelona fans as it relates to the managerial performance of Hansi Flick.
He won the domestic treble in his first season in charge, and came within minutes of reaching the Champions League final.
In year two, he has already won the Spanish Supercopa, has Barcelona in first place in La Liga, and qualified directly for the Champions League round of 16.
It’s hard to be too critical of his accomplishments thus far.
And yet, that first
leg beatdown in the Copa del Rey semifinal against Atletico Madrid will have culers holding their breath.
Throwing caution to the wind, in part, is what has brought Flick’s Barcelona as far as they have come. Expectations surely have been surpassed if you look back to the day he arrived in the summer of 2024.
That approach, however, may be the thing that makes life difficult in the Champions League, the biggest competition of them all.
Is it fair to judge a manager’s legacy by his ability to win Europe’s greatest prize? Can Flick still go down as a Barca legend even if he never raises the trophy?
When we take a step back, mission number one should always be La Liga.
Flick’s priority this spring should be to keep the pace in Spain. The title between Barcelona and Real Madrid will likely be determined by which team makes less mistakes.
What if Flick wins La Liga in his first two seasons in charge? Surely, that’s a legendary accomplishment, especially given the environment he’s operating in?
For me, what the Champions League will illustrate are either the power of, or the limitations of, Flick’s tactical philosophy.
For the moment, his best players are available, so he will be able to put out the best version of his trademark style of football.
Barcelona will live or die by the system that has already generated so much success and excitement, while also raising questions about its efficacy in cup competitions in particular.
The Champions League matters because the world is watching. It matters to Barcelona specifically because they want to narrow the gap in the trophy case with Real Madrid.
Barca fans rightfully value Flick and the magic he has worked at the club.
Going down in history, however, is another matter. Winning the Champions League is a good way to get there.
But it won’t be an easy path ahead with major European powers standing in his way.
The debate about Hansi Flick, his tactics, and his Blaugrana legacy, will likely be determined this spring. It’s a challenge that hopefully he is ready to face head on.
