{"id":789855,"date":"2026-05-12T00:07:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T00:07:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/789855\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T00:07:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T00:07:16","slug":"flick-turned-barcelona-into-a-family-and-runaway-la-liga-champions-la-liga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/789855\/","title":{"rendered":"Flick turned Barcelona into a family \u2013 and runaway La Liga champions | La Liga"},"content":{"rendered":"

Early on Sunday morning Hansi Flick got a call from his mum telling him that his father had died overnight. Hansi Sr was 82 and he had been ill for some time. The day that Barcelona were going to win the league again, the first cl\u00e1sico<\/a> back at Camp Nou<\/a>, had just begun and their coach was not sure what to do, yet he also knew. \u201cI [thought]: \u2018should I hide it or should I speak with my team, because for me it is like a family?\u2019,\u201d he said. \u201cI said \u2018OK, I want to get the information to my players, and what they did is unbelievable. I will never forget this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

None of them would. Barcelona\u2019s players had arrived at the Torre Melina hotel on the Diagonal at midday, where the man many of them consider a father told them about his. Now it was close to midnight and together they celebrated a title that was his too. For the first time in 94 years, the cl\u00e1sico had decided La Liga, if decided is really the word when it was done a while ago. Barcelona\u2019s superiority in the 2-0 victory that finally ended it was incontestable as it had been virtually all season, Real Madrid\u2019s players withdrawing swiftly, relieved that at least it was over now and leaving the stadium to them, the first round of fireworks exploding into the sky and a sardana forming in the centre circle.<\/p>\n

A stage was set up, three people heading on to the pitch with the giant letters that spelled CHAMPIONS. The presidents of the league and the Federation came down, the trophy was handed out on the night it was actually won, which is news in a competition where they could rarely be bothered before, there were brief speeches \u2013 \u201cBona nit, culers,\u201d Flick began, before continuing in English \u2013 and Ronald Ara\u00fajo led a lap of honour. Pau Cubars\u00ed took the megaphone \u2013 \u201cWell, no one else wanted to\u201d \u2013 Raphinha took the drum and Marc Casad\u00f3 took a giant Catalan flag. They gave Flick the bumps, throwing him in the air.<\/p>\n

Mostly, though, they held him close.<\/p>\n

This was already Flick\u2019s league and the way it closed made it more so, a symbolism to it all, in what he had handled what it all meant. In the contrast to the rivals they had just defeated, certainly. He had arrived in the summer of 2024, a time of economic weakness. It was bold, a risk too, but if anyone does bold risks well it is Joan Laporta. Dani Olmo was unable to be registered<\/a>, but Flick embraced it all<\/a>, bringing a fun and enthusiasm to Barcelona\u2019s football, an identity and intensity too. They won the league, so much better than the rest, but the coach suspected the second year would be harder and the way 2025-26 began suggested he was right. \u201cAt the start we went through a moment we didn\u2019t want to,\u201d Raphinha admitted.<\/p>\n

\"BarcelonaBarcelona celebrate winning La Liga title after beating Real Madrid \u2013 video<\/p>\n

Barcelona were a young team, at an average age of 24.25 \u2013 the youngest in the league, led by a teenager who might already be the best with all the pressure and personality shifts that can bring. Lamine Yamal might have been happy to perform his own coronation back then but he was also starting to see how heavy the head is that wears the crown. At the end of their 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano in August \u2013 a night when the home side had identified and attacked what their manager, I\u00f1igo P\u00e9rez, called The Flick Line<\/a> \u2013 Barcelona\u2019s coach delivered a telling line: ego, he warned, kills success.<\/p>\n

That was not all. I\u00f1igo Mart\u00ednez, leader of the line and much more, had gone. Ferm\u00edn L\u00f3pez had been on the verge of going. There was only one significant signing, although the arrival of the goalkeeper Joan Garc\u00eda was <\/a>very<\/a> significant<\/a>. They played home games in three different grounds, including the training ground. There were issues with injuries and with age: Raphinha, last season\u2019s best player, has started just 17 league games. Robert Lewandowski, their top scorer, just 14. Pedri has only started 22. Gavi has barely played in two years. Lamine Yamal has missed seven, and played the early months through pubalgia, later talking of his \u201cinternal abyss,\u201d writing: \u201cI would like to be everything everyone wants me to be,\u201d aware that he was not. The first <\/a>cl\u00e1sico<\/a>, in particular, had hurt. Accused of talking too much<\/a>, Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior enjoyed telling Lamine Yamal he had not gone past anyone, or even tried to.<\/p>\n

The night of that first cl\u00e1sico, at the end of October, the Santiago Bernab\u00e9u celebrated a 2-1 victory. But when Xabi Alonso withdrew Vin\u00edcius with 20 minutes remaining, the Brazilian headed straight down the tunnel. Seen at the time, it was bad; seen with perspective, sixth months on, it was the beginning of the end. Alonso had asked for attention to be trained upon what really mattered \u2013 the result \u2013 but it turned out that Vin\u00edcius\u2019s reaction was what really mattered, revealing and deepening fault lines that would be Madrid\u2019s undoing, Alonso\u2019s authority fatally undermined, any leadership lost.<\/p>\n

Barcelona were a unified team while Real Madrid unravelled during the season. Photograph: Eric Alonso\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Barcelona by contrast would head in the other direction. After the Rayo match, Flick said: \u201cLast year we played and worked as a team; I\u2019ve spoken to the players about that. You have to say it.\u201d You have to hear it too, and they did, which is not to say it was immediate, or easy. Ara\u00fajo had to stop for his mental health and after beating Alav\u00e9s the following month there was the extraordinary sight of Raphinha trying to comfort Flick<\/a> as the coach sat on the bench, alone and staring into space, sadly shaking his head. Flick had argued with his assistant, Marcus Sorg, the man he is closer to than any other, and watched his team underperform again. \u201cWe know as players we can be better. He feels the team isn\u2019t at its best [but] we have time to fix it,\u201d Raphinha said.<\/p>\n

More importantly, the Brazilian promised his manager that they would, and there was something in that scene \u2013 in the way they supported Ara\u00fajo too \u2013 that spoke of strength in adversity, respect and affection. That spoke too of the empathy with which Flick treated them, born of his own upbringing: where his father had commanded and he had developed a sensibility, willing to listen, accompany, convince and unite, rather than impose. There was in his team something shared, a togetherness and collective culture. A warmth and an idea too, a conviction and a sense of responsibility towards their coach and each other. And Raphinha was as good as his word.<\/p>\n

At the end of October\u2019s cl\u00e1sico, Barcelona had been five points behind Madrid. The next time they met, Ara\u00fajo returned<\/a> and was invited to lift the Super Cup after the victory<\/a> that saw Alonso sacked<\/a>. In Madrid, something had broken; in Barcelona, something was shifting, mending. Lamine Yamal became La Liga\u2019s best again<\/a>. Solutions were being found: Gerard Mart\u00edn, the backup left-back now the first-choice centre-back; Eric Garc\u00eda, everything really; Ferm\u00edn, flying. By the time they met this Sunday, Barcelona were 11 points clear. Madrid had fallen apart, collapsing into crisis<\/a>, the in-fighting literal. Barcelona had won 22 of 24 games since then. The title was there to be taken.<\/p>\n

For them and for the coach who is more than a coach. \u201cWe knew we had to give a bit extra for him,\u201d Mart\u00edn said. \u201cAt the beginning of the day we just thought about winning for Hansi and his family,\u201d Ferran Torres said.<\/p>\n

At the start, Camp Nou stood for a minute\u2019s silence, then chanted Flick\u2019s name, something that was echoed all night: an awareness that here was something deeper. When Marcus Rashford scored, he went to his manager. When Torres scored, so did he. They had done it; 14 points clear with three games to go; they are on course for 100.<\/p>\n

\u201cWinning two titles in a row is not normal,\u201d Flick said. Real Madrid have only done it once in 36 years. \u201cIt\u2019s normal for Flick,\u201d Rashford said. \u201cHe wins everywhere he goes. But to do it with such a young squad is not so easy.\u201d At full-time, Laporta, embraced his coach, crying as he did so. It was hard not to linger on the image of Flick gazing up at the sky, eyes glistening in the light, as the fireworks went off. Nor to see something else in the way he embraced them all, the kiss on Ferm\u00edn\u2019s cheek, the moment he lifted Gavi off the floor. \u201cHe knows how to get the best from these kids,\u201d said Barcelona\u2019s interim president, Rafa Yuste.<\/p>\n

\u2018He wins everywhere he goes.\u2019 Marcus Rashford scored the opener and ran to Hansi Flick to get the party started at Camp Nou. Photograph: Llu\u00eds Gen\u00e9\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cWe dedicate this to him,\u201d Pedri said. \u201cThis is for Hansi and his family,\u201d Cubars\u00ed said. \u201cIt has been a hard day for the coach and for all of us, because we\u2019re all together,\u201d Garc\u00eda said. \u201cHe is a father to me,\u201d Gavi said. \u201cFootball gives you family and for me he\u2019s a father,\u201d Raphinha said<\/a>. On the pitch, they were queueing to pose for pictures with the cup and Wojciech Szczesny got to go in goal for a bit, kids taking it in turns to take penalties, while Flick made his way inside. \u201cI\u2019m going to tell you something because it\u2019s not normal,\u201d he said, revealing that morning\u2019s call.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am really proud of everyone,\u201d Flick said. \u201cFor me, it is really a family and I appreciate it. As a coach it is always tough: you have to manage players and they have their own goals. But in the end it is about mentality and attitude and the team shows that in every training.<\/p>\n

Quick GuideLa Liga resultsShow<\/p>\n

Levanta 3-2 Osasuna, Elche 1-1 Alav\u00e9s, Sevilla 2-1 Espanyol, Atl\u00e9tico Madrid 0-1 Celta, Real Sociedad 2-2 Real Betis, Mallorca 1-1 Villarreal, Athletic Club 0-1 Valencia, Real Oviedo 0-0 Getafe, Barcelona 2-0 Real Madrid<\/p>\n

Monday:<\/b> Rayo Vallecano v Girona<\/p>\n

Thank you for your feedback.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the beginning of the season I spoke about egos but I always felt would we come on the top level because I could see training. The most important thing is how they play for each other: it is unbelievable. And the people in Barcelona are really kind to us. This is really the thing I appreciate a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Have you ever felt as much love as this, Flick was asked. \u201cNo, never,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am really happy, thanks. This is why I am feeling in the right place, the right time. It was a hard day, but I am proud. You can feel the connection we have and this is the most important thing in football and in life: that you are connected, that everyone feels part of this family.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd this is \u2026 yeah \u2026 It is difficult today to speak about all these things but I am very happy. I appreciate it a lot. Thanks. I will never forget this day, ever.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Early on Sunday morning Hansi Flick got a call from his mum telling him that his father had…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":789856,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5123],"tags":[1582,276,2961,224,5337],"class_list":{"0":"post-789855","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-california","10":"tag-la","11":"tag-los-angeles","12":"tag-losangeles"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116558696438815749","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/789855","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=789855"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/789855\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/789856"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=789855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=789855"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=789855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}