Barcelona have made the perfect start to their first season under new manager Hansi Flick, winning four games in four in La Liga, sitting comfortably at the top position.
The German tactician’s methods seem to be working clearly as the team’s performances have been improving game by game, even though there are some important players unavailable.
It is already well-established that Flick places great value on intensity on the field and the difference between the levels in last season and this season is already evident.
Another major aspect of the former Bayern Munich head coach’s management is strict discipline.
Lamine Yamal warned, a heavyweight reprimanded
Indeed, according to Mundo Deportivo, Hansi Flick, in the few months that he has been at Barcelona, is already said to have warned Lamine Yamal over punctuality and even reprimanded a dressing room ‘heavyweight’.
As per the report, Yamal was late for a pre-training talk and it resulted in him receiving a punishment from the manager in the form of a tunnel of slaps.
Meanwhile, another player – a ‘heavyweight’, is said to have been at the receiving end of a scolding by Flick in front of the rest of the squad and the coaching staff.
At the start of the season, Flick implemented double sessions on several days, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and in one of those morning training sessions, the player in question arrived late, having overslept, drawing the ire of the manager.
It is clear that Flick has imposed a very high level of discipline to try to control the group and if it is not up to standard, the reprimands are exemplary, irrespective of who the player is.
The German coach likes to keep the group happy and be close to the players, but he does not want to appear soft-handed and cause the group to become complacent.
