Barcelona manager Hansi Flick called his youth team “really good” in the first game of his reign against Manchester City and said he wants to emulate the philosophy of Pep Guardiola's “great” team.
Flick started four youngsters among nine players under the age of 23 as Barca led twice in the game that ended 2-2 against City in Orlando, winning penalties from Ander Astralaga, 20, who has never won. played a competitive senior game.
“We defended together and attacked together – as a team – and that's what we want,” said the German. “We fought each other. Maybe in the first half we were too deep; our vision is to be a bit ahead.
“We need more games but we played against Manchester City… Pep has been here for eight years and we want to do the same with them in terms of philosophy. Maybe it's a little different, but from that point of view.”
Flick & Pep: a clip that will make your day. 😍 pic.twitter.com/okR6Ma3O6F
– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 31, 2024
Hansi Flick: The Philosophy of Barcelona
When Flick was named as the replacement for club legend Xavi in May, Barcelona quoted a “fierce, ambitious German magazine”.
“The philosophy they have is the same as mine – possession and really attacking football,” the 59-year-old said of the team at the time. “These are the things I love.”
The Spanish team is missing 10 players for its tour of the US due to injury and international commitments, with the likes of Ilkay Gundogan and Raphinha, given extra time to recover from international competitions.
A two-time German champion as Bayern Munich manager, Flick will earn a million euro (around £844,000) bonus at Barcelona if he replicates his 2019/20 UEFA Champions League triumph with the Bundesliga giants.
🍿 POINTS! 🍿
Barça Beat City in Penalty Shootout Thriller pic.twitter.com/NNK5Wb5fi2– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 31, 2024
“I don't want to focus on individual names after just one game,” said Flick. “I wasn't sure we were going to have that defensive balance, but we did.”
Barcelona games, schedule
Barca will face arch-rivals Real Madrid in New Jersey on Sunday (12am BST), and Milan in Baltimore on August 7 (12.30am).
They host Monaco in the Joan Gamper Trophy on August 12 (7pm) before their Liga season kicks off in Valencia five days later (8.30pm).
Flick is in his first coaching role outside of Germany, having returned to management for the first time since being sacked as manager of his national team in September 2023.
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