Barça has made official this Wednesday the signing of Hansi Flick as the new coach of the men's first football team. The 59-year-old returns to football management after his last spell, at the head of the German national team, came to an end in September 2023 and through the social media of his new club has said that he is very excited about the new project: "It's a big honour and a dream to sign as Barcelona coach and work for this amazing club. I'm really looking forward to getting started. It's an unbelieveable club. Since I've arrived I've seen that everyone loves this club and they do everything possible for its success."
Flick: "Barça's philosophy fits very well with mine"
At face value, the playing style of the teams that Hansi Flick has coached is quite different from what Xavi proposed at Can Barça over the past seasons. The German coach favours a much more vertical football, with a greater tendency to use longer passes than in Barça's usual game. However, in his first words - in English - after arriving at the club Flick emphasized the importance of ball possession and of playing attacking football to state that "Barça's philosophy fits very well with mine".
And in addition to referring to this immovable pillar of his new club, Flick has referred to another fundamental one which is La Masia, the Barça football academy. The new FC Barcelona coach praised the blaugrana squad, highlighting that the club has as "one of the best football academies in the world. In the first team there is a good mix between experienced players and talented youngsters. I think we have to work to improve them, they can improve. This is our job, working together with Deco and with president Laporta. We have to work together in this aspect. I am very happy to do this with these guys".
Flick has the management pedigree, with a World Cup (as assistant coach) and a Champions League, among other trophies with Germany and Bayern. The 59-year-old coach referred to the titles he has achieved, noting "I have a big hunger for titles and would like to follow this path in Barcelona. We can achieve many things together and that is the most important thing". He ended his first interview as culer coach with a direct message to the fans: "Hello, culers. I really want to start this journey with you. Your support is very important and together we can achieve a lot with this amazing team. Visca el Barça!".
Barça makes Xavi's departure official
Before being able to announce the arrival of Flick, Barça had to make official the awkward termination of the contract with the current coach, Xavi Hernández. "FC Barcelona and Xavi Hernández Creus have reached an agreement to sever the contract that the coach and his staff had with the Club until the end of the 2024/25 season," the statement began.
"The Club wishes to publicly thank Xavi and the rest of his coaching staff for their commitment, dedication and generosity, and for their help in reaching an agreement to sever the contract. Furthermore, we wish him success in the future on both a personal and professional level," Barça concluded. According to several reports, Xavi has waived the 11 million euros he was due to receive for the remaining year of his contract.