Joan Laporta lifts lid on why Hansi Flick was the right fit for Barcelona | OneFootball

When Xavi Hernández was let go last summer and replaced by Hansi Flick, few knew what to expect. The German coach, remembered by many Barcelona fans as the architect of one of the club’s most painful defeats, arrived with baggage, most recently a troubled stint with the German national team.

It seemed like a huge gamble that Joan Laporta and Deco were taking, but boy, weren’t they right!

Just one season later, the German coach sits happily, having guided a young Barcelona team to a domestic treble and one of their best Champions League runs in recent seasons. Flick’s team has a clear blueprint on how they play football, and it is exhilarating to watch.

Joan Laporta on Hansi Flick

Hansi Flick has transformed the fortunes at FC Barcelona. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Speaking to TV3 after being crowned La Liga champions, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo, Laporta was asked about the thought process behind appointing Hansi Flick, and he made a very interesting Johan Cruyff comparison. The president said:

“He has Johan’s gaze. With those blue eyes, he sees football like Johan. He comes from that German school, at a time when we needed a profile like his. Without criticizing Xavi, who won a league title and a Super Cup, and did well. But we felt a change was necessary, and he had everything the team needed.”

It is now clear that the resemblance to Johan goes beyond just the blue eyes, with the German coach following a lot of principles that the Dutch coach established during his legendary period as the manager of the Catalan club. Laporta also added what Flick told him about the parade. He said:

“Flick told me: What I experienced during the parade was incredible. He was moved by everything he was living through.”

Onwards and upwards

Xavi laid the foundations for what this team is today. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Back when Laporta and Deco made the difficult decision of letting Xavi go, it did not feel right, especially since they had just convinced the Spaniard to stay when he wanted to leave. However, it is clear that they saw a certain vision with Flick.

Flick has not just managed to get the results on the pitch, but he has also managed to do so playing one of the most entertaining brands of football in Europe. The German coach has also managed to improve the game of many players in the squad.

With silverware, style, and squad development all firmly in hand, Flick has quickly cemented his place at the heart of Barcelona’s resurgence. More than just a tactical fit, his philosophy echoes the club’s DNA, earning praise and even comparisons to Johan Cruyff.

As the blue-eyed architect of this exciting new era, Flick now turns his focus to Europe’s biggest prize. The stage is set; next season, the Champions League could be within reach.