Hansi Flick's arrival on Barça's bench has meant a paradigm shift in the locker room. The German coach has implemented strict discipline that has brought back the demand and seriousness to training sessions. The players know it well: whoever doesn't comply is automatically left out of the plans.
He made that message very clear from the moment he landed at Camp Nou last summer. Flick took over a team that was struggling, lacking hunger, and in just a few months, he put it back on the winning track. With hard work, intensity, and discipline, he has managed to make Barça compete again as the club's history demands.
In this new context, there's no room for privileges or untouchable players, even though things were different in the previous era. Xavi Hernández had some players he treated with special care despite their inconsistent performances. Flick, on the other hand, has wanted to put an end to any hint of internal favoritism in the culé locker room.
The rule is clear: whoever doesn't train at the highest level won't get minutes on the field. That principle doesn't recognize hierarchies, ages, or past at the club, only the present and commitment. Precisely because of that demand, Flick has made a decision that has shaken Barcelona fans.
A public and direct warning
Tension erupted during a recent training session at the Joan Gamper Sports City, when Flick stopped the session. The German didn't tolerate an action he considered unacceptable and didn't hesitate to point out the responsible player. For Flick, intensity is a daily obligation and he doesn't allow any relaxation under any circumstances.
The player in question had shown a passive attitude in the defensive drills set by the coaching staff. Instead of correcting the situation discreetly, Flick wanted to send a message to the group during the training session. The coach was blunt: "With that attitude, you only hurt Barça," he told him in front of everyone.
That gesture was met with surprise by several teammates, who were used to a very different treatment for the player singled out. Some footballers later commented that it was the first time they'd seen the coach be so tough with him. However, Flick felt it was necessary to set a limit before it was too late.
The locker room's reaction was immediate: everyone understood that the level of demand would be at its highest from now on. No one will be able to hide behind the label of untouchable or expect preferential treatment on a daily basis. Equality, at least in the German's eyes, will be absolute in the culé sports project.
Goodbye to a player marked by inconsistency
The player singled out was for a long time one of Xavi Hernández's trusted players. The Egarense coach strongly backed him, even when his constant injuries kept him from the desired competitive rhythm. Even so, he always ended up getting minutes, even if he wasn't in top form.
Flick doesn't share that view and prefers to prioritize reliability over status or track record. The German has made it clear that he can't build a solid project with inconsistent players. Meritocracy is his only roadmap and he doesn't intend to betray it under any circumstances.
The player in question also faces an uncertain future at the club contractually. His contract expires in 2026 (2026), and for now, Barça hasn't shown any signs of offering him a renewal. The sporting management, in fact, has him on the way out for this transfer window.
The coming days will be decisive, as several European teams have already inquired about his services. Barça hopes to receive an offer close to 30 million for his transfer to be approved. Although Flick has sidelined him, the final decision will depend on what the interested parties put forward.
The ultimate victim
In the end, the player Flick has singled out is none other than Andreas Christensen. The Dane, considered "Xavi's spoiled child," doesn't fit into the German's new idea of maximum intensity. His physical problems and the inconsistency of recent seasons have ultimately doomed his role in the team.
The center-back arrived as a free agent from Chelsea and became a very useful wildcard for Xavi. However, with Flick, he hasn't managed to keep up the level and has clearly been relegated in the rotation. The German coach believes his contribution is insufficient and that, with his attitude, "he only hurts Barça."
Barça will listen to offers in this transfer window and everything suggests that his time at Camp Nou is coming to an end. Flick has already closed the door on him and the sporting management is willing to let him go to the highest bidder. One more sign that, under the German's leadership, there are no untouchables or inherited favors.
