Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has impressed everyone with the speed with which he has adapted to life in Catalonia and the speed with which he has improved the club. Not only has he turned things around dramatically, he has done so with virtually no reinforcements, with Dani Olmo the only major signing this summer.
However, that is no coincidence. Before taking the job, the question was asked how much he would commit to La Masia's academy products, and how he would deal with not knowing the club inside and out. However, part of the reason he got the job was because he impressed sporting director Deco with his knowledge during their first meeting, Sport revealed.
The meeting, which lasted three hours, started with Flick explaining that he loved Barcelona: the players, the club, its idiosyncrasies and basically everything that went with it. Before going to the meeting, Flick had also prepared dossiers on all the first-team players and Barca Atletic, using these to explain how he would use their players and get the best out of them.
During that process he also chose Marc Casado, Marc Bernal and Pau Victor as players he wanted to promote to the first team. All three were in use on the first matchday of the season and in Casado's case he has become the key figure in their midfield, although Bernal was robbed of that opportunity through injury.
Flick has made little noise since arriving in Barcelona, making little effort to puff his chest after his early-season success. He has undoubtedly been the key factor in the change. While fitness levels have also improved thanks to a new team in that department, the main thing players are highlighting during his tenure is the change in atmosphere.
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