Joan Laporta reveals whom he had consulted before appointing Hansi Flick as the Barcelona coach | OneFootball

There is no doubt that FC Barcelona have had a very successful 2024-25 season. Few people could have expected the team that ended the last season without any trophies to take all the domestic trophies home this season.

However, the decision to appoint Hansi Flick, who has already written his name in the club history, as the team’s head coach has proven to be the right one in hindsight. In fact, as Mundo Deportivo has reported, the Barcelona President, Joan Laporta, appeared in a recent interview and expressed his satisfaction with the work done by the German tactician.

Joan Laporta expresses satisfaction with Hansi Flick’s work

The top Blaugrana official highlighted in this interview how resilient the team has been this season:

“These are the hardest questions because, in principle, you remember all the good things. But you also remember the moments of suffering and overcoming adversity. The ones I experienced with my team, with Manana, my chief of staff, with Enric Masip, with Jordi Finestres, with Alejandro Echevarría, with Deco, who really reminds me of Txiki Begiristain in the way he works.

And with everyone’s reaction when we saw attempts to destabilize us with the institutional smear campaign. I remember the moments when the fair play rules were changed and we couldn’t register Olmo and Pau Víctor. We’ve been brave, and the results are there. It’s in those moments that you see the reaction and realize it was all worth it.”

Laporta was clear that Flick has met the expectations that were placed on him:

“The objective has been achieved, which was to win La Liga. That was our main goal. Flick has said it many times in interviews. I like what he says about it being the most honest competition. Because it shows hard work, consistency, perseverance, and sacrifice. In La Liga, you always have a rough patch, and we managed to overcome it.”

The Barcelona President went on to highlight some of the best qualities of the German coach:

“The special sensitivity with which he has managed the group. He has taken it as a vital motivation. He has this ability to make you feel connected to the project, to make you believe you’re important. And I think he has transmitted that to the players and the environment.

And he’s smart. He speaks in English, and that’s his decision because I think he understands Spanish, but maybe someone told him not to speak it. This way, he might feel more comfortable and secure, and avoid unnecessary confrontations.”

Barcelona President Joan Laporta. [Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images]

Consultation with Ralf Rangnick

Laporta also admitted that he had consulted with Ralf Rangnick before appointing Flick as the team’s coach:

“I’ve always liked Johan Cruyff’s Dutch style. But yes, I spoke with the German coach Ralf Rangnick when I read an interview in which he talked about Johan. And he told me about Tuchel, Nagelsmann, Klopp, and Flick. And we came to the conclusion that the most suitable one could be Hansi. The trip by Deco and Bojan finalized everything.”

The president then highlighted why Flick was selected over these other notable names:

“Others had a lot of knowledge, but some were not club coaches and others didn’t know how to deal well enough with stars. Hansi met all these requirements; he was good at everything.”

Laporta also hinted that the coach’s renewal is on track:

“It had already been mentioned that in January we agreed he would extend his contract for one more year, until 2027. We haven’t formalized that agreement, but Hansi is a man of his word. He showed it when he said he couldn’t come to Barça because he had signed with the German national team. But it was already on his mind and mine that one day he would coach Barça.”

The top Barcelona official rated the current season very highly:

“Excellent. Because we haven’t only won the League, we’ve also won the Cup and the Super Cup. And it’s commendable because we won them fighting against our greatest rival, and they had strengthened their squad. But we were better. Now it’s about continuing like this, evaluating and analyzing the squad, and keeping on winning.”

Lastly, Joan Laporta also talked about the improvements the team might have to make for the next season:

“For Hansi, everything has to be studied in great depth. This year we’ve played in our own way, the Barça way, but I believe, like every coach, he has evolved the system. And to do that, you have to study a lot because the change requires coordination from the whole team, and that can’t be done mid-season.

I know they’re going to study more variations in the playing system to counter the shortcomings we’ve had at times.”

There is no doubt that Hansi Flick has exceeded expectations as a Barcelona coach. Hopefully, he will continue enjoying a similar level of success in the upcoming seasons as well, and continue to convince Joan Laporta about his management style and abilities.