Barcelona are now the reigning La Liga champions and soon the Spanish big club will move back to an expanded and modernized version of Camp Nou. – With a capacity of 105,000, Barcelona will have Europe’s and the world’s 3.st largest football stadium.
And with the world’s largest fan base, it will be constantly full. – manager Hansi Flick wants to start a new golden age and not only beat Real Madrid at home in La Liga, but also win the Champions League.
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Flick’s demands to win the next Champions League
The German manager knows exactly what Barcelona need to dominate next season.
Hansi Flick has wasted no time in showing his ambition as FC Barcelona’s head coach. After winning La Liga in his first season, the German coach has already designated his main goal for the coming season: to win the Champions League. But for this challenge to become a reality, there is one key player he believes is needed to strengthen the team right away: – A world-class goalkeeper.
In the last meetings with Barcelona’s board, Flick was clear. To be able to compete on an equal footing with Europe’s big clubs, the team needs a goalkeeper who can make a difference in crucial moments. The internal analysis of the coaching staff, bolstered by what they have seen in this season’s Champions League, shows that teams that go far have goalkeepers who make crucial saves – such as Gianluigi Donnarumma or Yann Sommer.
Flick doesn’t quite trust Ter Stegen
Marc-André ter Stegen’s situation is worrying. Although he is one of the team’s captains and a club icon, his return from his knee injury has not dispelled all doubts. His performances, which have been uneven towards the end of the season, have raised questions about whether he still has what it takes to compete at the highest European level.
This is exacerbated by the situation of Wojciech Szczęsny. The Polish goalkeeper has done well since arriving in January, but his future is still uncertain. Flick appreciates his efforts, but doesn’t see him as a permanent solution if Ter Stegen doesn’t get back to his best form.
Therefore, sporting director Deco is already working according to Flick’s instructions: to find a reliable goalkeeper with experience from high pressure and with potential. Names such as Leo Román and Joan García have been mentioned, although the latter could soon sign for Aston Villa.
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The plan is clear: For Barcelona to make the qualitative leap they need in Europe, the goal must be a fortress, not a question mark. Flick knows this, and he has been clear: Without a top-class goalkeeper, there will be no “orejona” (Champions League title).
