Villarreal manager Marcelino has voiced his surprise at the warm reception Barcelona fans have shown towards Hansi Flick’s new style of play, Soccernet.football reports.
Since taking over at Barcelona, Flick has delivered strong results, injecting fresh energy into the team and raising hopes among supporters. His approach has been notably different from the traditional Barcelona style, but fans have been quick to praise it.
Under Flick, Barcelona’s game has evolved rapidly. Marcelino acknowledged these changes, highlighting how the team has become a more dynamic unit.
“It’s a Barça that runs a lot, a lot in total volume and intensity. If you run a lot and you also have very good players, a very specific game plan, and you rely on favourable initial results, then it’s normal that you look like a machine,” Marcelino said as per MundoDeportivo.
What has truly surprised the Villarreal coach, though, is how the traditionally possession-focused Barcelona fans have embraced this new, more direct and aggressive approach.
“What surprises me is that the culés praise this style of play. It seems that there was a gene that was non-negotiable,” he remarked.
Barcelona has long been associated with a slow, methodical build-up play, but Flick has introduced a fast-paced, high-intensity strategy.
“Now we see that Barça has possession, but it has possession to attack you and kill you, and it attacks you and kills you again and again. It puts pressure on you when you lose the ball, as it did in other times, and is then capable of finishing,” Marcelino added.
The change may be stark, but with results speaking for themselves, Flick’s Barcelona appears to be winning over even the most traditional fans.