Hansi Flick faces storm at Barca

Coach Hansi Flick's biggest problem in the 2025/26 season is injuries.

Hansi Flick’s first season at Barcelona was a source of hope. A young, energetic team, playing modern, attacking football that excited fans. But just a year later, things have turned sour. Barcelona are slipping, and Flick, the former Champions League winner with Bayern, is now a stoic figure on the touchline.

With three defeats in their last five games and five points behind Real Madrid in La Liga, Barca are in a state of uncertainty. Their crisis is not due to tactical doubts, but to the human factor: injuries.

Since the start of the season, the Catalan team has suffered 38 injuries, with 11 players out. Pedri, the only player to start all the matches, will also miss the next round after his red card in El Clasico.

Flick has never played two consecutive games with the same starting lineup. He has used 8 defenders, 4 pairs of center backs, and 13 different attacking trios in just 13 games.

In defense, Ter Stegen and Joan Garcia are both injured, Christensen and Balde are absent for a long time. Eric Garcia has to take turns filling in many positions. The midfield lost Gavi, while up front, Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Ferran, Fermin Lopez and Dro are all injured. To the point that Flick had to try Rashford and young talent Toni Fernandez as center forwards.

No team can keep up with a new lineup every week. But the biggest blow to Flick was Raphinha.

With the Brazilian on the pitch, Barca won 7, drew 1, and remained unbeaten in La Liga and the Champions League. They scored 21 goals, conceded 5, Raphinha contributed 3 goals and 2 assists. Without him, Barca won 3, lost 3, scored 13, conceded 11. A completely different team, disjointed, lifeless and fragile.

Lamine Yamal has not regained his peak form.

But the problem is not just injuries. Flick’s second year has been beset by off-field factors. The return to the Camp Nou has been postponed until late November, leaving Barca playing away from home. The team has lost the energy from the stands that has helped them survive so many difficult times.

Fermin Lopez and Casado were left hanging over their futures during the summer transfer window, causing uncertainty in the dressing room. The departure of Íñigo Martínez disrupted the defensive structure Flick had built, and the pre-season tour, which was marred by controversy due to the commercial schedule, frustrated the German. He is not fond of such trips, and the summer only widened the gap between him and the board.

Now the noise surrounding Yamal, Barca’s most anticipated star, is making waves behind the scenes. It all adds up to a gray picture. Flick is struggling with injuries, pressure, and things he can’t control.

From being the architect of order, Hansi Flick now looks like someone trying to keep the ship afloat. Barcelona still have potential, still have young talent, but they need stability, something Flick has not found after 13 games this season. And with what is happening, his journey at Camp Nou is becoming the steepest hill of his coaching career.

Source: https://znews.vn/hansi-flick-doi-mat-con-bao-tai-barca-post1598561.html