The Catalans endured another summer – and season – of incessant off-field uncertainty to reclaim their crown in fine style
It emerged in April that Barcelona boss Hansi Flick is responsible for a minor makeover at the club's training ground, with the walls of the senior squad's dressing room now adorned with motivational quotations from sporting icons such as Michael Jordan.
The news did not come as much of a surprise given Flick's famed attention to detail. Jordan's inclusion also felt particularly apt, as the basketball legend rather personifies Flick's fearless footballing philosophy. Jordan was never afraid of failure; on the contrary, he embraced it as a tool of learning.
It was the American who also once stated, "Talent wins games – but teamwork and intelligence wins championships." This season's Spanish title race has emphatically proven Jordan's point…
Getty Images Sport'Not good news'
Barcelona beat Espanyol 2-0 on Thursday to win La Liga with two games remaining, but nobody foresaw such a dominant campaign last summer. After all, Madrid were coming off the back of a sensational season in which they had won not only La Liga, but also the Champions League.
Then, they went out and added Kylian Mbappe to a side that had just finished 10 points clear of Barca domestically. "Speaking as a cule, it's not good news," Joan Laporta admitted at the time. However, the Blaugrana president also insisted, "I prefer our strategy of trusting in a project with players produced and made in La Masia."
Of course, that strategy was partially born of necessity, given the Catalan club's ongoing financial problems, but Barca had enjoyed plenty of previous success with homegrown heroes and the latest crop of academy graduates looked particularly promising.
The key, though, was finding the right man to harness their potential and, in that context, Flick has actually proven a far more significant – and successful – summer signing than Mbappe.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'Sergeant Flick'
It's easy to forget just how much uncertainty there was surrounding Barcelona before the start of the season. Laporta had promised there would be no repeat of the player registration chaos that had blighted previous transfer windows – and yet Dani Olmo, their one major acquisition, missed the first rounds of La Liga as Barcelona were once again left scrambling around trying to find ways to balance their books before deadline day. In the end, they were indebted to a very timely, long-term injury to Andreas Christensen for freeing up some wiggle room within their salary cap for Olmo.
Plenty of fans were also still upset with the disgraceful way in which former coach Xavi had been treated by Laporta & Co. before, during and after the decision had been taken to relieve him of his duties last May. However, Flick wasted little time endearing himself to the supporters by embracing the local culture and carrying out his many media duties with a reassuring combination of calmness and composure. Most importantly of all, though, the new boss quickly won over the players with his mix of warmth and authority.
"He does have that element of a sergeant about him," midfielder Pedri admitted in an interview with , "but he's as good as gold when he speaks with the players. He's really close to the squad; someone who likes to talk with us. He also enjoys a joke, he's not always as serious as he appears. He's always on top of what we need and you appreciate that. When things have to be taken seriously, though, he does."
AFP'Work much harder than before'
Laporta made it clear to Flick before he job took the job that the Barca squad had to be "better prepared physically" for the rigours of competing on four fronts. Too often under Xavi, the Blaugrana had faded in the final quarter of games, which repeatedly cost them precious points in La Liga.
However, thanks to the fantastic work done by Flick and his crack team of strength and conditioning coaches, Barca attained a level of stamina that enabled them to continue pressing, hassling and harrying opponents right until the final whistle.
"We work much harder than before and you noticed it in matches," said Pedri, who has benefited more than anyone else from the new fitness regiment "The team doesn't dip after the 70th or 80th minute, it maintains the same energy levels."
Indeed, time and time again throughout the 2024-25 campaign, Barca came from behind to win games – despite a fixture list that Flick understandably found insane, particularly when his side were forced to play twice in the same week immediately after an international break.
Barca always kept going, though. Even after suffering a mentally and physically draining extra-time loss to Inter in the semi-finals of the Champions League, the Blaugrana somehow recovered from the concession of two goals inside the opening 15 minutes of the final Clasico of the season to beat Madrid 4-3 at Montjuic to effectively clinch the title.
Getty Images Sport17-year-old 'difference-maker'
Crucially, Barca' players never lost faith in Flick's fearless brand of football. He asked them to play an incredibly high line, which is usually a terrifying prospect for defenders, but Barca's back four relished the challenge. There were times when it looked like a flawed approach, particularly during what Flick called a "sh*tty November", when the Blaugrana threw away the early lead they'd built up in La Liga by dropping eight points in three games.
However, the ex-Germany boss was adamant that the risk would eventually prove worth the reward – and he was spot on in that regard. Madrid tried four times in three different competitions to take full advantage of Barca's adventurous approach – but not once did they manage to get the better of the Blaugrana, who haven't lost in the league since December.
Of course, he was fortunate to have a tremendously talented group of young players willing to follow his every command. As Laporta predicted, having access to the most famous academy in world football was of great help to Flick given the lack of new arrivals last summer.
Marc Casado, Fermin Lopez and even the injury-hit Gavi have all started at least 10 league games this season, while Alejandro Balde and the fantastic Pau Cubarsi have been regulars in defence. Lamine Yamal, though, is obviously the jewel of La Masia, the most talented teenager the game has ever seen.
Yamal is capable of doing incredible things with a football, but what really marks him out as a generational talent is that he's capable of doing them at the most important moments in the most important games, like the massive come-from-behind win over Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano on March 16 and Thursday's title-securing win over Espanyol.
"To be a difference-maker at such a young age is really incredible," Flick quite correctly stated. "Having him is key for us not only because of his quality, but he also presses high very well. He combines talent and pressure and that's massive for us. He is outstanding."
Of course, Yamal – who has a league-high 12 assists this season – is just one part of the most formidable forward lines in world football.
