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Afolabi Ezekiel - September 6, 2024
Being one of the biggest clubs in the world, FC Barcelona are facing tough financial challenges since 2020. No one would have believed that a club who was tipped to become the first football club to generate €1b in a calendar year in 2019 will be struggling to register players in less than five years, that is how tough Barcelona’s situation is.
To solve their problems, they have pulled financial levers, while President Joan Laporta also acquired a €600m loan from Goldman Sachs to mitigate the financial struggles, but all is still not well.
This situation continued in the summer with the club’s inability to register Dani Olmo ahead of their opening fixture of the season due to the salary cap despite the release of several players. To register Olmo, the club allowed German International Ilkay Gundogan to leave for free to wipe his salary, luckily Olmo has had an immediate impact for the club.
Barcelona have made the best start to the new season under Hansi Flick with four wins from four games, including a 7-0 whitewashing of Valladolid last Sunday.
As the case has been whenever a new manager is appointed, there was huge uncertainty around how Hansi Flick would settle in Catalonia, especially with first-team injuries, inability to extend players’ contracts, and the weakness in the transfer market. It simply couldn’t have gone better with four successive wins, 13 goals scored, and a four-point lead over rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
The recent win against Valladolid is Barcelona’s biggest win in over six years, with several players playing at the peak of their abilities for the club.
It is too early to tag Barça as favourites to win La Liga, but there are signs of a bright future in their present, all thanks to La Masia.
Ignored by the club for several years, La Masia has proved its worth and importance to Barcelona with the club’s inability to flex financial muscles in the market. It remains to be seen if it can be Barcelona’s redemption.
Seven academy graduates featured for Barcelona in Hansi Flick’s first competitive fixture for the club, with Pau Cubarsi, Marc Bernal, and Lamine Yamal starting. It was only the second time in the 21st century that Barcelona started three under-18 players.
It’s clear that Barcelona are using these young players because of their financial struggles. Most of them would not have the option of playing in the first team if the financial woes were absent.
Barcelona’s football legacy has always been about keeping possession. Popularly known as tiki-taka, this system, which features short and precise passes, has won the club numerous trophies over the years. Hansi Flick’s philosophy is similar, but more direct, especially in transitions.
However, this tactical switch would need psychological and physical changes from the players, as the system demands quick thinking and high intensity.
With the La Masia boys known for a particular style of play, integrating Flick’s system while preserving Barcelona’s traditional playing style could prove difficult if not managed well.
At any top club, the weight of expectations is enormous. Hansi Flick is not only tasked with restoring the club to its former glory but must also do it in the club’s way.
Every Barça manager in the post-Pep era has had to walk in Guardiola’s footsteps. They all had to contend with high expectations, which often leads to their failure.
Hansi Flick’s appointment represents both an opportunity and a risk. His style has been successful at the highest level, and his ability to develop emerging talents complements La Masia’s high production level. However, the club’s financial limitations could make Flick’s tenure a challenging one.
It remains to be seen if Flick’s Barcelona represents the dawn of a new era or if the struggles will continue. Should he be successful, he would write his name in the club’s history. If not, he may find himself walking the same road as his predecessors.
