What is Barcelona’s Flick doing better than previous managers?

Thu, Dec 11, 2025
by CapperTek

For managers, success at Barcelona has always been a strange concept. Win a league title and you are briefly praised, but lose a Clássico or fall out of the Champions League early and then past performance is forgotten.

In recent seasons, Barcelona fans have seen both extremes. A La Liga title under Xavi brought relief and pride, while disappointing results in Europe and financial chaos kept expectations permanently conflicted.

Fans of the club wanted results, but they also wanted to feel like Barcelona again. That is the environment that Hansi Flick became manager in. Not a club in crisis, but one still arguing with itself about its identity, patience and standards.

Interestingly, Flick has already had a big impact and changes the perception of the club. Not with empty slogans or nostalgia, but with tactical planning and processes. His managerial style has put Barca back amongst the favourites for all the trophies they compete for in the football betting markets.

In this blog post, we compare Flick to the Barcelona managers that came before him and his key coaching principles.

How does Flick compare to previous managers?

To understand what Flick is doing better, you have to look at who came before him. Previous manager Ronald Koeman came into the club at a chaotic time and tried to push through it.

While there was good intentions and honesty in his approach, there wasn’t enough cohesion. Barcelona were transition-heavy and this made them fragile.

Xavi Hernández brought some structure back to the club. He understood the club at its heart and tried hard to  restore positional discipline and defensive solidity.

The 2022 - 2023 season proved that with the club’s outstanding performance. Barcelona conceded just 20 league goals and controlled matches through patient buildup.

However, this control came at a bit of a cost. Attacks became predictable as the tempo dropped, and against elite European sides the team struggled to adapt.

Flick’s Barcelona looks quite different to this. Where Xavi sometimes coached the team based on his own philosophy, Flick treats it like an elite competition unit.

For example, possession is important but Flick aims to have the ball move forward earlier, and vertical options are encouraged. He is more open to risk when it is well calculated.

Flicks style of play

One of the biggest changes that fans have noticed is neutrality in his principles. Flick is not  obsessed with recreating 2009 but he is obsessed with winning.

Under his leadership, Barcelona are more aggressive in their playing style. The defensive line is important, but the midfield works harder without the ball than it has in years. The club averaged more high turnovers per match than under Xavi, and shots created from pressing actions have increased noticeably.

This has resulted in fewer dry spells and more action in the final third.

Statistically, early returns underline the change. Barcelona’s shots per game have increased, expected goals have increased too.

His strategy isn’t perfect of course. Defensive transitions can still look risky and big European matches remain the real test. But the intent behind it is clearer and that is important at this club.

What fans and experts are saying

Among supporters, the reaction has been cautiously optimistic. In Barcelona terms, this can be considered high praise. Ever since Flick joined the club, there has been attention on his every move as stakeholders try to gain insight into what type of manager he is and what impact it will have on the club.

Fans appreciate Flick’s energy and his decisiveness. There is less hand-wringing, fewer sideways passes in safe areas and a visible emphasis on hard work.

Experts have highlighted his authority. Flick arrived with a Champions League résumé and a treble on his CV. That is key in a dressing room full of young talent and established stars.

There is less noise around selection decisions because players understand the standard required.

Pundits have also pointed out improved squad management. Flick rotates without any indecisiveness. Young players are trusted and veterans aren’t over indulged. In this club, output beats reputation.

Final thoughts on Flick

Hansi Flick is not reinventing Barcelona, and that’s exactly why it’s working. He’s taking away some of the anxiety that has haunted the club since its peak and replacing it with clarity.

There has been less obsession with the past and more attention to the present.

Compared to recent managers, Flick provides a good amount of balance. He brings structure without being too rigid and supports tradition without paralysis.

It is still early, and Barcelona seasons are rarely straightforward, but for the first time in a while, success feels the club is rooted in process rather than just hope.