The Catalan side have won two trophies this season and could effectively seal the title in Sunday’s clásico
Former Barcelona forward Luis Garcia has praised Hansi Flick’s impact at the club, saying the team have surprised many people this season with how quickly they’ve adapted to a new style of play.
In an interview with GOAL, Garcia explained that while the talent was already there from last year, no one expected the team to grow this fast. Flick’s arrival has brought a fresh approach, and Barcelona’s young stars have stepped up.
“I think they surprised us all,” said Garcia. “I think that we could expect them to do well, because the team is there.
“They had the talent last year, they did a good job, even though they didn’t win La Liga. They did well in the Champions League and European competition. But you can see that there was something there.”
Garcia named several young players who have impressed this season: Gavi, Pedri, Fermin Lopez, Alejandro Balde, and 17-year-old Lamine Yamal. He believes they are already among Europe’s best young players.
“Talents like Gavi, Pedri, Fermin Lopez, Lamine Yamal obviously, Alejandro Balde. You could say that right now, they are probably top stars in Europe, or rising stars,” said Garcia.
What has really stood out for the ex-Liverpool player, though, is how well the players have taken on Flick’s ideas. While Barcelona still love to keep the ball, like in the days of Tiki Taka, they now play with more speed and energy.
“They picked up very well what Hansi Flick has made them do, this new style of Barcelona,” he said. “We all remember the Barcelona of the Tiki Taka, possession and trying to always be dominant in the game, but this is a new style.
“The possession is there, of course, the ball is always theirs and they try to be dominant. But that intensity, the high line, I think that we were all not as confident as I think they were.”
Garcia also mentioned Barcelona’s rough patch in the middle of the season, when the Catalan club won only one in seven across all competitions and lost three in a row at Montjuic in La Liga, dropping to third in the table. In spite of that, Flick’s side are “still fighting”, according to Garcia.
Barcelona climbed back to the top of La Liga and are now leading second-placed Real Madrid with four points. The clásico at Montjuic on Sunday is potentially a title-race decider. A win over Real Madrid would extend Barcelona’s lead to seven points with three games left to play, effectively sealing the title.
And Garcia understands the significance of the tie for Flick’s side: “El Clasico is going to be the biggest moment of the season for them,” he said.
