A closer look at Barcelona’s rapid glow-up after Chelsea defeat | OneFootball

“We will see a better Barça, that’s what I can promise,” is what Hansi Flick declared on November 25 last year.

He was speaking in the aftermath of a bruising 3-0 thrashing at Stamford Bridge – a night where Barcelona appeared soulless, tactically paralysed by Ronald Araujo’s early dismissal, and adrift from the virtues that had defined the early Flick era.

At the time, the outlook was darkening. While the team sat just one point behind Real Madrid in La Liga, the sensations were worrying.

However, that night in London served as a catalyst for one of the most remarkable mid-season turnarounds in recent memory.

How Barcelona turned it around

Flick drew strength from that weakness, using his post-match address to ignite a fire within the dressing room. The response was immediate and statistically staggering.

In the 18 matches preceding the Chelsea debacle, Barça had dropped points in six games, recording 12 wins, two draws, and four defeats.

During this initial stretch, the team scored 48 goals but conceded 25, managing only four clean sheets.

In the 18 matches following Stamford Bridge, they have been nearly perfect. Flick’s side has secured 17 wins and suffered just a single defeat – a solitary slip against Real Sociedad.

The offensive output remained high with 51 goals scored, but the most dramatic shift occurred at the back, where the team conceded only 15 goals and doubled their clean sheet tally to eight.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has orchestrated a brilliant turnaround. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

The Joan Garcia Effect

While the goalscoring rate remained elite, the true glow-up occurred in the defensive third. The catalyst for this stability has been Joan Garcia.

The goalkeeper has been instrumental, helping the team concede ten fewer goals than in the first half of the season.

His performance against Espanyol remains the gold standard for his ability to produce valuable goal saves. Under his watch, the clean sheet tally has doubled from four to eight.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this run is that it has been achieved without the team’s engine room. Barcelona have had to navigate this period without the leadership of Pedri and the explosiveness of Raphinha.

In their absence, other figures have stepped up. Flick has successfully restored the team’s high-pressing intensity, with Eric Garcia leading recoveries in the opponent’s half and Frenkie de Jong providing a much-needed increase in defensive discipline.

Raphinha’s return, of course, has helped the team even more, with the Brazilian once again looking unstoppable alongside the likes of Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski.

Since the Stamford Bridge debacle, the club has achieved every major objective, including reclaiming the lead in La Liga and qualifying for the Champions League Top 8.

The team has already secured the Spanish Super Cup and remains in contention for the Copa del Rey, where they have reached the semifinals with a first-leg clash against Atletico de Madrid looming this Thursday.

Overall, Barcelona look more stable, more intense, and more dangerous than ever.