Barcelona enters The Classic looks like a completely different side to the one that faced Los Blancos in April at the Santiago Bernabeu. With only Dani Olmo and Pau Victor coming into the side in the summer, Hansi Flick changed the team, which comes down to three key differences in the eyes of the Blaugrana team.
That is second Chain SERwho say that first of all, the formation has changed dramatically under the German manager. The players told Santi Ovalle that they are enjoying the different training methods under Flick, and the new style is to their liking.
The second big change that benefits is the honesty that Flick and his staff have shown, and their willingness to talk with the players on all topics. The German manager is direct, amiable, and far from the disciplinarian that he has been portrayed as soe in the media. He is also careful to continue to talk to the players on the bench, and explain what he needs to do to contribute more.
Lamine: “I usually look at the full-back and go for him with everything. It's a feeling I've never had. It's like my mother is in front of me telling me to go for the rival. It's a feeling that I can't describe it, but it's incredible.”
— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) October 25, 2024
Third of all, the relationships between the young players have improved drastically. First, the group was separated into veterans, including Robert Lewandowski, Andreas Christensen, Frenkie de Jong and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and young players. In particular, the status of Lamine Yamal has changed, and his relations with Lewandowski have improved, but in general, there is much more of a bond between the team.
Barcelona are looking to become once more on the pitch, freeing them from the tense and turgid football that characterized much of last season. If they can get past Real Madrid, then Flick will have set them up for a successful season in their first three months of competition. As Ovalle noted, however, everything falls apart when you win, and the cracks deepen with defeats.
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