Hansi Flick’s bold decision-making – No player above the team at Barcelona

Barcelona secured a hard-fought 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund last night at Signal Iduna Park to take a step closer to securing their place in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.

Goals from Raphinha and Ferran Torres (two) helped the Blaugrana secure a much-needed victory and provided some relief for manager Hansi Flick, who had been under a slight amount of pressure after some recent results in La Liga.

Flick’s strong decision-making on showcase in Dortmund win

In his time at Barcelona, Hansi Flick has demonstrated that he is not afraid to make the big calls and take major decisions keeping the goodwill of the team in focus.

On Wednesday, the German tactician once again proved in Dortmund that he has no qualms about making tough decisions.

Just last Saturday, against Real Betis, he had justified substituting his key players such as Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, and Pedri, due to the upcoming game against Dortmund. However, in Signal Iduna Park, there were no such excuses.

The only match on the horizon was a home fixture against Leganes the following Sunday. Despite this, Flick repeated the same operation.

Whether for physical or tactical reasons, he once again replaced Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Olmo around the 70th minute, bringing on what is beginning to look like his second-string players.

Frenkie de Jong, Ferran Torres, and Fermin Lopez (who replaced Gavi in Seville) while Pedri and Lamine Yamal also eventually left the pitch.

In what was a crucial Champions League game, it was striking to see five of Barcelona’s most important players on the bench in the latter stages. This was not the first time Flick had done this, and it looks set to be far from the last.

Reason for Flick’s changes

Flick is aiming to build a Barcelona that presses high from start to finish, and if that means sacrificing some of his star players, even at the risk of upsetting egos or facing criticism if the results do not follow, he seems willing to pay the price and remain resolute in his beliefs.

Over time, he also knows that this approach could be highly valued in the dressing room.

This does not appear to be a mere power play or a premeditated demonstration of authority. It is simply a necessary policy to execute his footballing philosophy, which demands that the team remains solid in pressing, never taking a step back during matches.

During the summer, had a conversation with Lewandowski about the situation. After the Polish striker joined the team after the European Championship, the manager reminded him that, he needed to contribute defensively in order to realise his footballing vision.

He also made it clear that being committed to the team did not guarantee Lewandowski a full 90 minutes on the pitch.

Flick respects the striker’s importance and had not substituted him in any match before the 65th minute, but is not afraid to make the change when necessary. Lewandowski, in turn, has responded with impressive performances, scoring 23 goals this season.

But Flick has shown that no player is untouchable. He does not hesitate, even with his most revered stars.