The tactical genius of Hansi Flick, the Barcelona squad and understanding game states – Opinion | OneFootball

Hansi Flick is nearly three-quarters into his tenure as FC Barcelona manager, and one can say with certainty that the German coach has had a remarkable impact from a sporting perspective.

Barcelona currently sit at the top of the La Liga table after the 1-0 win against Rayo Vallecano and advanced from the Champions League’s initial phase, finishing 2nd among 32 teams with the best goal difference, securing direct progression to the Round of 16.

Apart from a rough two-month spell between November and December, when the team struggled to win games, Barcelona has been among Europe’s standout teams. Since January, with the return of key injured players, Flick has tactically steered games in his side’s favor, displaying his exceptional understanding of game states.

Hansi Flick’s Tactical Adaptability

One of Flick’s standout qualities is his ability to turn games around with smart second-half substitutions. His innate understanding of game states allows him to make adjustments that keep Barcelona in control.

Flick’s squad can be categorized into three distinct groups:

“Cast in Iron” Players: The Backbone of the Team

These are the players who are indispensable to Flick’s system. Regardless of the opposition, they are the first names on the team sheet, given their consistency and reliability.

Key players in this category:

While these players provide a solid foundation, they are not necessarily the differentiators in Flick’s tactical approach. Instead, his ability to leverage “The Joker Cards” makes the real impact.

“The Joker Cards”: Tactical Adjustments for Game States

Flick’s genius lies in his flexible use of these players, allowing him to adapt to different match situations. Let’s examine how he deploys them across different areas of the pitch.

1. Central Defense: Adapting to Opponents

For most games, the player who Hansi Flick chooses to partner Pau Cubarsi is Inigo Martinez. The Spaniard is an expert at intercepting crosses into the box and has elite defensive positioning that helps cover his lack of pace.

Facing opposition who put a lot of balls into the box is a game state that Inigo thrives in and exactly the kind of matches that he should be playing. However, when facing teams like Real Madrid who are a huge threat on the counter, Flick might think differently.

A player like Ronald Araujo is an expert at defending with his back to goal and can cover space behind a backline like none other. The Uruguayan thrives in such a game state where he can track runners and cordon them off attacking areas as seen in the Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid.

The other option that Hansi Flick uses in central defense is Eric Garcia. The La Masia graduate is extremely valuable against opposition that does not attack a lot and instead looks to sit back and not allow space to the rampant Barcelona attackers.

The ex-Man City defender thrives in such a game state where his incredible passing ability comes to the fore. Playing with Eric and Cubarsi at the back is like having two deep-lying playmakers playing in central defense and the Spaniard is also an expert at playing the offside trap.

2. Defensive Midfield: Controlling or Breaking Play

More than central defense, Hansi Flick’s use of the number six in his team would help one understand game states so much better. For much of the first half of the season, Marc Casado played in this role considering Frenkie took time to work his way back from injury.

However, since the turn of 2025, Frenkie de Jong has returned to his very best, dominating the midfield like he did before his injury and Hansi Flick has chosen to alternate between the two ever since.

Frenkie thrives in games where Barcelona are expected to keep much of the possession and do not face much threat on the counter. He can dictate the tempo to a tee, and playing him alongside Pedri gives the team so much control.

The Dutchman is an expert at dropping deep, receiving the ball, driving up the pitch with the ball at his feet, and moving further forward, almost like a complete box-to-box presence. However, he isn’t the most astute defensively.

On the other hand, in games where a ball-winner is needed in midfield, enter Marc Casado. The ex-Barca Atletic captain is an expert tackler who almost always comes off with the ball when he goes into a challenge and he has the ability to keep it simple and let Pedri take over.

3. The Third Midfielder: Versatility in Midfield

There is a reason we are choosing to call this section the third midfielder instead of the attacking midfielder. Hansi Flick has three main candidates for this particular role – Gavi, Fermin Lopez, and Dani Olmo.

Gavi must be used in games where Barcelona want to play in a more traditional 4-3-3 rather than a 4-2-3-1. The Spaniard thrived in this position against Atletico Madrid in December and even against Real Madrid in the final of the Spanish Super Cup.

The Spanish youngster is not naturally a number 10 and does not thrive in being isolated higher up the pitch. However, in the games in which Hansi Flick wants control in his system, Gavi is his go-to man.

Fermin Lopez on the other hand thrives against teams that leave a lot of space behind their backline. Take Valencia, for example, against whom the Spaniard was simply faultless. The La Masia star excels at making perfect runs into the box and should be Flick’s go-to man against such opposition.

Finally, let’s talk about the magician – Dani Olmo. The Spaniard is arguably one of the most talented players in the world when it comes to playing in between the lines. Against teams that sit in a deep block and teams that tend to compress the middle of the pitch, the Spaniard is pivotal.

Olmo adds incredible quality to the Barcelona midfield. He is a number 10 in its true essence and the ex-RB Leipzig man will be extremely crucial to Hansi Flick in the big games coming up for the rest of this season.

4. Striker: Choosing the Right Number 9

This one is fairly straightforward for Hansi Flick. The German coach has two very different kinds of number nines at his disposal – Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. In Football Manager terms, one is a complete forward while the other is an advanced forward.

Similar to Fermin Lopez, there are games, especially against some La Liga opponents that crave for the pace of Ferran Torres. The Spaniard is an expert at making runs and has also added the finishing to his arsenal in recent weeks.

On the other hand, Robert Lewandowski is a striker for all occasions. For most big games, he continues to be Hansi Flick’s go-to number nine and will continue to be so for the rest of the season.

Compared to the other positions, this distinction is fairly easy for Hansi Flick to make but his tactical nous in doing this regularly over the past few weeks is exactly what has made Barcelona unbeatable since the beginning of 2025.

“The Fringe Players”: Limited but Useful Rotation Options

These players see minimal game time, often featuring only in heavy-rotation matches. While they are not considered game-changers, they are still part of Flick’s squad strategy.

Notable fringe players:

Conclusion: Flick’s tactical mastery holds the key to Barcelona’s season

Barcelona are set to have an intense end to the season where they are set to face different kinds of opposition in different games and Hansi Flick’s reading of game states could turn out to be the difference between a brilliant season and an ‘almost there’ season.

What stands out is that Barcelona does not rely on a fixed starting XI. Instead, Flick has cultivated a versatile squad of 16-17 players, each serving a distinct purpose based on the demands of the match.