Flick calls for leaders as Barça look to rediscover their mojo
Hansi Flick held frank dressing room talks after two straight defeats, calling for leaders to step up as Barça prepare to host Levante.
Hansi Flick has been doing some serious soul-searching at Barcelona this week — and he’s not shy about admitting it.
After back-to-back defeats left the Camp Nou faithful a bit deflated, the German gaffer spent the best part of an hour in the dressing room on both Thursday and Saturday putting things under the microscope with his players. The message? Honest conversations, open debate, and a clear demand for more leadership on the pitch.
Two days off, one big reset
Flick was keen to stress that the short break did the squad a world of good. Players came back fresher, heads clearer — and with a home game against Levante on the horizon, the timing couldn’t be better. He acknowledged the team hadn’t been at their best lately, but insisted they’ve turned the page.
The bigger concern, though, is what he flagged about the squad’s identity in difficult moments:
- Lack of on-pitch leadership was openly flagged as a problem
- Flick said he’s been asking players for their opinions and thoughts — he wants them to take ownership
- He admitted Barça haven’t had “that reference of a leader” on the pitch recently, but sees it as a collective responsibility to help players grow into that role
Pedri and Gavi: light at the end of the tunnel
The good news? There’s some proper talent coming back into the fold.
- Pedri is back training with the group and could feature against Levante — Flick described him as a future leader of this club, which is high praise
- Gavi is progressing well but Flick’s keeping it cautious — “step by step” was the phrase he kept coming back to
- Rashford is also back available, which gives Flick more options going forward
Ramadan, penalties, and a cheeky dig at the boardroom
A few other bits worth flagging from the presser:
- Only Lamine Yamal is observing Ramadan in the squad, and Flick says they’ve got a clear plan to support him around training and nutrition
- On penalties — Barça have been missing them too often — Flick said the player who feels most confident should step up, though he admitted it hasn’t been formally discussed with the group yet
- And on the ongoing presidential elections at the club? Flick kept it diplomatic, but couldn’t resist a grin when he pointed out that Barça have lost both games played without a president in charge
What needs to change
Flick was pretty candid about the tactical issues too. Against low-block sides, Barça haven’t been sharp enough in transition, they’ve been giving the ball away in dangerous areas, and the intensity with and without the ball has dropped off. He wants the team more connected, more aggressive in their press, and playing with the kind of hunger that made them so good earlier in the season.
With the Camp Nou behind them and some key players returning, this feels like a moment. Flick clearly believes in his squad — now they’ve got to show it.