Since Flick arrived on Barça's bench, he has had an immediate impact not only on the team's play but also on the individual performance of many of its footballers. One of his greatest achievements has been increasing the value of players who seemed stuck or clearly on a downward curve. Cases like Frenkie de Jong or Raphinha are paradigmatic.
With Flick, both have regained their best form and have become essential pieces of the team. Flick has managed to find the ideal spot for them in his tactical scheme.
From disparaged players to pillars
The most surprising aspect of this transformation is that just a year ago, both Frenkie and Raphinha were highly questioned players. De Jong was on his way out and there were rumors of a transfer, while Raphinha was seen as an inconsistent footballer, unable to shine regularly. Today, both are considered untouchable in the starting eleven.
The increase in value has not only been sporting but also economic. Thanks to their great season, the market value of these players has increased considerably, which also strengthens the club's finances in case of future operations. Flick's influence in this regard has been a key asset for Barça, which urgently needed to strengthen its squad without major investments.
Ansu Fati's case: a decision that surprised
However, not all of Flick's decisions were well understood at first. One of the most discussed was his lack of trust in Ansu Fati from the start of the season. Meanwhile, the club conveyed faith in the young forward's recovery, Flick opted from the very beginning for other options and Ansu was relegated to a very secondary role.
The lack of minutes caused surprise among the fans, who expected to see the exciting Ansu Fati from his early days again. But the German coach was consistent with his impressions from training sessions and did not include him in his project, which over time has proven to be a correct decision.
Ansu, loaned to Monaco and without good impressions
This summer, Ansu Fati has been loaned to AS Monaco, in an attempt to regain confidence and form away from Camp Nou. However, the first reports coming from the Principality are not encouraging. According to local media reports, his performance in the first training sessions has been disappointing and he has not been at the physical or technical level expected by the French team's coaching staff.
This confirms what Hansi Flick already suspected: Ansu Fati is still not ready to take on an important role in a top-level team. His case shows that, beyond talent, it is essential to be at 100% in every aspect to succeed at the elite level. For now, Flick has been right, and his judgment continues to be reinforced as one of the great pillars of the new Barça.