« You can’t try to drive 200 kilometres per hour on the autobahn if you can only do 100, » said then Bayern coach Niko Kovac about his team at a press conference on 28 October 2019, before declaring a week later, after a crushing 1-5 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt is left out. On an interim basis, his assistant coach Hansi Flick takes over the wheel of the allegedly limping car. The exit that surprised more than everyone: Sextuple.

With his communicative style, the former Bayern player quickly picks up the pieces within the team. The debut, with a 4-0 win over BVB, was also perfect. In the Corona crisis that is about to begin, the « Players Coach » encourages his team. 22 of the first 25 competitive games under Flick have been won. At the beginning of 2021, FCB can call itself a six-time winner for the first time. Previously, only FC Barcelona had achieved this in 2009.

The Barça of that time was one of the best – if I say the best – club teams of all time. And since then, it has been the benchmark for everything that followed. But while Flick was enjoying the Corona period in Munich, the lack of income almost led the Blaugrana to financial ruin. Messi still hid a lot of his skills and charisma. But when « La Pulga » could no longer afford it in the summer of 2021, the sporting turning point began.

Xavi must have thought it was a matter of honour that I helped. The « heart » of the Tiki-Taka team returned to the Camp Nou as coach in November 2021. Completely successful. In 2023, the league and the Spanish Super Cup were won. However, it was a decision he bitterly regretted in 2024. « Everything I did caused an earthquake. They targeted me and I couldn’t work quietly, » the 44-year-old admitted after his last match as Barça coach in May 2024.

« The new coach will not have an easy task, » the Spaniard warned his successor. Flick has so far not been impressed by this. Conclusion after the first few days? « It’s incredible what we experience here. Everyone shows us respect. No high-profile transfers for the midfield? « We have a lot of great players there, some are still injured at the moment, I don’t think we need reinforcements. »

The parallels between his tenure at Bayern and Barça are striking. On the one hand, because the sporting demands are at their highest at both clubs. For Bavaria, especially at national level, only the best is good enough. For Barça, it is important to ensure that they are not completely overtaken by their great rivals Real in the coming season.

On the other hand, the situation of the team is also similar. Arriving in the middle of the season, Flick was able to influence the Bayern personnel only a little. In Barcelona, ​​there is little room for maneuver for financial reasons. At least one big star strengthens the team. At least in theory.

After an exceptional European Championship for Spain, Barça managed to bring back their former homegrown player Dani Olmo. But the former Leipzig player is not yet eligible to play with less than a week to go until the start of the championship. In order to meet the La Liga salary cap, €20 million of room to manoeuvre must first be created through player sales. If a solution is not found in time, Flick will have to rely on young talent – ​​and an old acquaintance.

Robert Lewandowski was considered one of the stars whose sale could create financial space. Also because he seemed superfluous in sports lately. Flick has already managed to put an old star back on the path to success in Munich. Under Kovac, Thomas Müller should « only get his minutes if necessary ». On the further path to the sextuple, the abandoned one became the X-factor again. For example, in the 8-2 dismantling of Barça in the quarter-finals of CL 2020.

November 29 marks the 125th anniversary of the founding of FC Barcelona. Then, the celebration will take place at the Camp Nou, which is still under renovation. The goals for the season are accordingly. « The club wants to win titles, that’s why they brought me in, » Flick says confidently as he introduces himself. But the dress rehearsal went really badly.

In front of his home crowd, it was a painful 3-0 defeat against AS Monaco that some supporters then whistled at the team. No problem for the optimists on the sidelines. « I know what this team can do. It wasn’t our game, we weren’t good, but in Valencia we’ll do it differently, » he said after the test.

The time has come to move from words to action. A victory will be necessary in the first league match against Valencia to avoid causing major unrest in the club environment at the start of the season.

Flick proved in Munich that he can work very successfully under pressure. Since he has been Germany coach, he knows better than anyone how quickly the wind can turn at the highest level. Once again, Flick will have to try to make a record start with a strangled car. Otherwise, he and Barça risk a total loss in their anniversary year.