'Unbelievable' Barça greater than I assumed- Flick

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has stated the membership is even greater than he imagined after he was formally offered on Thursday, virtually two months after his appointment was confirmed.

Flick, 59, replaced Xavi Hernández at the end of May and takes over a Barça facet which didn’t win a trophy final season.

Regardless of that, he’s excited by what he has seen since taking up and insists he’s prepared for the strain and expectations which include the position.

“I might really feel it from first second, that is an unbelievable membership,” the previous Bayern Munich and Germany coach stated. “It’s an incredible membership, very huge, greater than I imagined.

“For me, it is one of many largest golf equipment, possibly the most important membership. To win titles, you possibly can solely actually win with the most important golf equipment, which is why I’m right here.

“I’m not saying we’ll win each title, but when we work exhausting we will obtain and have choices to achieve success. We all know exhausting work and outcomes depend, nothing else, however I’m trying ahead to this.”

Barça president Joan Laporta has beforehand stated that “dropping has penalties” and, along with successful trophies, there are additionally calls for on Flick to play a sure type of attacking soccer.

“That is my job, I’m coach of Barça and I do know what occurs,” he stated when requested if he was prepared for the strain that may comply with when the brand new LaLiga season will get underway with a visit to Valencia on Aug. 17.

“[The aim is] to play nicely, in fact, but additionally to provide every little thing on the pitch and be nicely ready. The gamers have to point out the way it works on the pitch. For me, it is essential that you simply give 100% in coaching.

“I’m not distant from the concept Barça performed earlier than once they had this unbelievable success with [Johan] Cruyff or Pep [Guardiola]. I desire a staff on the pitch that’s lively, with the ball and with out the ball, dictating the rhythm of the play.”

Flick has needed to cope with a disrupted preseason to date as a result of delayed return of gamers from this summer season’s main tournaments, together with the European Championship and the Copa América, with different gamers now on the Olympic Games.

There has additionally been a spate of accidents to deal with. Gavi and Frenkie de Jong have been sidelined since last season, whereas Pedri and Ronald Araújo each picked up problems whereas with their nationwide groups this month.

The newest setback got here on Wednesday when Ansu Fati, who has returned from a season-long mortgage with Premier League facet Brighton, injured his foot in coaching, ruling him out of the tour of the US, the place Barça will play Manchester City, Real Madrid and AC Milan.

“The state of affairs with the injured gamers, it is a pity,” Flick stated. “Ansu, within the first days, was unbelievable. He was actually match; confirmed it on the pitch and in [fitness] coaching.

“It isn’t good to not have him in America. However we now have to just accept this. We’ll assist him to return again stronger.”

The dearth of accessible first staff gamers has meant Flick has had time to work with a few of the membership’s in-house expertise from La Masia, the membership’s famed youth academy.

“Thankyou for La Masia, to work with these gamers is plenty of enjoyable,” he stated. “The standard, the depth they’ve… and all the time targeted on what we’re doing.

“Hopefully we will convey gamers from La Masia into the primary staff. The entire world seems to be to La Masia and speaks about how implausible is the job with the younger gamers — now I can see it.

“They work so exhausting; they’ve superb high quality. In addition they have to enhance, in fact, it isn’t like they’re now on the [highest] degree, however the fundamentals are implausible. It isn’t honest to provide names, however there are lots of attention-grabbing gamers.”

One La Masia graduate who Flick is but to work with is Lamine Yamal, who stays on vacation after serving to Spain win Euro 2024. He’ll miss the U.S. tour however Flick has already been in contact with him, texting him throughout the Euros, and praised his performances in Germany.

“He has achieved an incredible job within the final 12 months, he improved quite a bit and he is now, step-by-step, at this degree,” he stated of Yamal, who solely turned 17 earlier this month.

“Additionally what he did within the Euros, it was unbelievable. However huge gamers additionally proceed to convey their performances [up] and it is necessary for him now to stick with each ft on the bottom.

“He is an incredible man. I’ve been in a position to communicate with him. He can provide us the nice moments, however he can also enhance and make issues higher, that is additionally our half, however he is in a really implausible manner.”

Flick refused to speak about potential signings when asked about the club’s interest in Athletic Club ahead Nico Williams and the necessity for a defensive midfielder, whereas he wouldn’t even be drawn on Sergi Roberto‘s state of affairs.

Roberto, Barça’s captain final season, has been and not using a membership since his contract expired on June 30.

“For the time being, he isn’t a participant from Barça,” was Flick’s restricted response on a potential new deal.

Laporta, seated alongside Flick, gave a way more optimistic message, as soon as once more reiterating his perception that Barça will have the ability to afford the offers being reported within the media regardless of being in extra of their LaLiga-imposed spending restrict as issues stand.

The Barça president stated there shall be information on monetary agreements “quickly,” and that talks are progressing nicely over a brand new settlement with package provider Nike.

ESPN has beforehand reported that Barça’s priorities this summer season are the signing of winger Williams, who has a €58 million ($63m) launch clause, and one other midfielder.