Hansi Flick’s Barcelona excel as Europe’s best team in one key defensive aspect

The playing style of FC Barcelona has undergone a complete changeover since Hansi Flick took charge. Since the start of this season, there has been a clear difference in how the team approaches its game compared to how they did under Xavi Hernández.

The results have largely been in favor of Hansi Flick, as his team has lost only three points from a possible 24 in La Liga, and is currently sitting at the top of the league table.

However, the change in the team’s approach is also quite visible on the pitch. As Mundo Deportivo has noted, one of the aspects in which this is most visible is the way the Catalan team applies pressure on its opponents in their own half.

This season, FC Barcelona leads all teams in Europe’s top leagues and the Champions League in ball recoveries in the final third. So far, the Blaugranes have made 48 ball recoveries deep in the opposition’s area.

This figure is two more than Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, a team renowned for its high pressing and ability to win the ball in dangerous areas. In contrast, last season, the Blaugranes didn’t even rank in the top ten teams in this regard.

Pedri González is the player who has contributed the most to this area of the team’s game, as he has made 10 recoveries in 10 games up to now. Meanwhile, other players like Jules Kounde and Marc Casado have also made a high number of ball recoveries in the opposition half.

Thus, applying pressure and recovering the ball high up the pitch is coming up as one of the more clear aspects of Flick’s game style. This change has been paying for FC Barcelona up to now, and hopefully will continue to do so as the season progresses.