Marc Casado was one of the breakthrough stars for FC Barcelona last season, grabbing the opportunity that came his way under Hansi Flick with both hands. Having been close to leaving the club at one point, the La Masia graduate became a mainstay in the team and ended the 2024/25 term with 2447 minutes across 36 games in all competitions, even chipping in with a goal and six assists.
On a cold night at Stamford Bridge they were soundly beaten, 3-0, on a night when they had to play the entire second half with ten following Ronald Araujo's red card. Hansi Flick 'positive about the future' - FC Barcelona If Hansi Flick's post-match press conference could be summed up in a single line, it would be this: "We have to accept the defeat and stay positive about what comes next."
Zahavi, who lives in London, took advantage of his proximity to stop by the hotel and greet his client. The meeting with Flick was cordial and brief, held in the calm atmosphere typical of the hours before a European fixture. The Israeli agent arrived with two of his regular collaborators, Max Bielefeld and Humberto Paiva, who accompanied him throughout the visit.
It's a big week, but at the end of this week, we have another big week. Every game is important. Of course, Barcelona and Arsenal are important for different reasons, and we are ready.
"I want Camp Nou to be a sacred temple where we can share many memories with 105,000 fans when it's finished. Flick has told me he wants to see it, and I've told him he'll see it because he's very well established here,"
Frenkie de Jong will not be available after picking up two yellow cards in the clash with Celta Vigo, forcing him to serve his suspension tomorrow. To add to that, Pedri is still not fit enough to feature, leaving Flick with a familiar dilemma. It is a situation the German coach has already experienced before, almost identical, in fact, to the one he faced during his early days at the club.
Barcelona's winter transfer window is already shaping into a storyline filled with speculation, interest from abroad, and growing pressure surrounding the club's brightest young talents. Among those at the centre of attention is Roony Bardghji, the Swedish wonderkid who arrived at Barça with immense expectations but has had limited opportunities so far this season. Despite the reduced game time, his future has now taken a clear turn after fresh claims from SPORT revealed that Bardghji has decisively closed the door on any January exit.
According to Diario SPORT, Xavi Espart has been ruled out for at least two months after picking up a fresh injury. Initial examinations indicate the problem is located in his right knee. The medical staff is being highly cautious before issuing a definitive diagnosis, as there is a serious possibility that a ligament may be affected. The injury is a significant blow not just to the player, but to the club's strategy for the coming weeks.
The Camp Nou works are progressing at a very good pace. If there are no surprises, the third tiers will be operational at the start of next season, just like the VIP boxes, which are of great importance in refinancing the stadium. We'll play in the Camp Nou as soon as possible. The stadium is ready to play with a 27,000 capacity. Hansi Flick had chills when he entered the new Camp Nou. The players were freaking out too.
From the beginning of his Barcelona career, he has played with some of the biggest names in the game. He started as a sidekick to Lionel Messi, and now he plays in the shadows of Pedri and Lamine Yamal. He doesn't score fancy goals, or even record many assists. And yet, regardless of who the Barca manager has been, and by my count there have been five, his role in the starting eleven has never been questioned.
Say what you like about Hansi Flick, but the first-team head coach isn't for turning. Win, lose or draw, he clearly won't have his Barça side playing any other way than with the high-risk, high-reward high line. As we saw again at Celta, when it doesn't work and the Blaugranes are so easily exposed, it looks amateurish. However, in the second half, there was a clear indication of how well it can contain opposition teams when used correctly.
It was an emotional day at the Camp Nou, not only because supporters witnessed the first open session since the stadium's renovation, but also due to the sight of Garcia back among his teammates. For the first time since suffering an injury against Real Oviedo on September 25, the young shot-stopper trained alongside the group in front of 23,000 enthusiastic fans. His presence was met with loud cheers as he stepped onto the pitch, symbolising another step forward in his recovery.
Of all of the top teams in Europe, Barcelona under manager Hansi Flick is the most addicted to the offside trap. The high-risk, high-reward defense has been Flick's trademark as a manager, and Barcelona has, by both design and necessity, adopted it with striking intensity. Flick's mantra is simple: Play a high line, try to catch opponents offside, and if and when it fails, just out-score them on the other end. This, I'd say, broadly worked last season.