Hansi Flick has done wonders for Barcelona in his very first season as he has guided them to the La Liga title, Copa del Rey as well as the Spanish Super Cup While they were on course to securing a historic treble, things didn’t go according to plan as they were knocked out of the Champions League by Inter Milan in the semi-finals.
Despite the disappointment in the UCL, this will still go down as a special season in Barcelona’s history as in many ways, this marks the return of the Catalan giants, who haven’t been at their best for some time. While they did lift the league title in Xavi’s tenure as well, they were not as clinical and as promising as they were this season.
The triumph under Xavi was based more on defensive stability as they were the best defence in the competition (20 goals conceded in 38 outings) but under Flick, they have been one of the most destructive teams in Europe (97 goals scored in 36 league outings so far).
A lot of credit goes to Flick for the tactical changes he’s implemented and the freedom he’s given his players to express themselves on the pitch. But Barcelona’s dominance in the 2024/25 season can be attributed to several factors, none bigger than Xavi’s early trust in La Masia’s talents, handing them first-team debuts and laying the foundation for success.
The former Barcelona star returned to the club towards the end of 2021 after a brief stint at Al-Sadd, stepping into one of the most challenging periods in its history. With the Catalan giants under immense financial strain, Xavi not only made personal financial sacrifices to take charge but also adapted impressively to the club’s limited resources and managed to do a commendable job.
Xavi, who himself came up the ranks at La Masia, decided to turn his attention towards their famous youth academy to help revive the club. During his time at the club, Xavi handed first-team debuts to 15 La Masia talents.
His decision to trust La Masia graduates has paid off massively, with several of those youngsters now forming the core of Barcelona’s first team. Marc Casado, Hector Fort, Fermin Lopez, Pau Cubarsi, and Lamine Yamal have all emerged as key figures.
Yamal and Cubarsi, in particular, have become mainstays in Flick’s starting XI and have been two of their standout performers of the season. Fort and Lopez have also played vital roles in the team’s success. Meanwhile, Casado remains a top prospect for the future despite having missed the majority of the season because of a serious injury.
Barcelona’s success this season feels like just the beginning of a new era. Alongside the La Masia talents who made their debuts under Xavi, the presence of Gavi, Pedri, Marc Bernal, Jules Kounde, and a resurgent Raphinha suggests the foundation of a group that could define a generation at the club.
Flick’s Barcelona have scored 97 goals in their 36 league outings so far, they are well on course to breach the 100-goal mark. While quite a few players have contributed towards that tally, none more than the outstanding trio of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.
Yamal’s talent has been quite evident from the first day he took the field and Lewandowski has a proven track record of scoring goals in every team he has played for. While it wasn’t really a surprise seeing them dominate defenders, not many expected Raphinha to have the kind of season he has had.
The 28-year-old was on the verge of leaving the club, but Flick convinced him to stay. It has turned out to be the best decision of his career, as Raphinha is enjoying a dream campaign. He has featured in 55 matches across competitions and has contributed towards 59 goals (34 goals, 25 assists).
With 18 goals and 11 assists in 34 league appearances, the Brazilian international is undoubtedly having the best season of his life. Given the impact he has made, he will certainly be in contention for the next Ballon d’Or. While he prefers playing on the right flank, Flick has brought the best out of him by playing him on the opposite flank.
No doubt a lot of credit goes to Raphinha but the Brazilian also acknowledged the fact that this all would have been impossible without Flick who convinced him to stay and gave him the confidence to turn around his career.
While speaking to DAZN, he said via : “The truth is, for me, it changed practically everything,”
“As I’ve said on other occasions in interviews, I was leaving the club before the season even started. The manager was incredibly important in my change of mind, in my ability to stay at the club.
“He gives me all the confidence possible to do everything I’m doing.
“For me, as I’ve said, it’s changed everything. It’s practically changed my career. I’m having my best, my best career since I started in football, and I owe it all to him.”
While Barcelona did taste success under Xavi, they heavily relied on the defensive side of things. However, things have been completely different under Flick. The German manager has brought a sense of tactical clarity and instilled an attacking intent that had been missing in recent years.
The Catalan giants who often relied on their famous tiki-taka style of football, now play with a high defensive line and look to make the most out of quick transitions. Flick has introduced a modern and fearless brand of football at the club and it is certainly bringing out the best in the players at the club.
His side not only dominates possession but uses it with purpose, breaking lines with vertical passes and overwhelming opponents with relentless pressure. Flick has struck a balance between the club’s traditional identity and a more direct, result-driven approach, which has made Barcelona not just effective, but ruthless in front of the goal.
The 97 league goals they’ve scored so far are a testament to this shift in mentality and execution. More importantly, he has managed to bring the best out of their experienced core and has given the young stars the perfect platform to thrive on.
Barcelona are no longer in a transitional phase; their performances this season have sent a clear message to the footballing world. With the strong foundation they’ve built, expectations will be even higher heading into next season.
