Hansi Flick Outlines Barcelona’s Growth Plan Ahead of Betis Showdown
As we reach the final two months of the season, it’s still hard to believe how good Barcelona have been under Hansi Flick. The Catalans have been especially great in 2025, unbeaten in all 21 matches played this calendar year with the best attack in Europe and in a very strong position to win the third men’s Treble in club history.
But Flick still thinks his team can get better. The coach was asked in a press conference on Friday where Barça can improve, and he specifically mentioned the ability to stop teams from counter-attacking against the Blaugrana’s high line when they lose possession.
“When we have possession, we see fantastic pace, but many teams know how to exploit mistakes when they have the ball. That’s why we have to focus on that and eliminate opportunities for the opponent. It’s nothing more. Sometimes we can give up a lot of space for counter-attacks, and that’s what we want to eliminate.”
Teams being able to counter-attack against Barça is natural given the Catalans’ approach and their high line, which is why the Blaugrana’s ability to play a very good offside trap has been crucial to their success all season long.
But as we reach the business end of the campaign, they will face increasingly better teams, especially in Europe, so they can’t always count on the offside trap to bail them out. So being better on the ball, and most importantly with their pressing out of possession to win it back quickly, is a must to avoid constant dangerous counters. As we enter the final stretch of the season, it’s hard to believe just how impressive Barcelona has been under Hansi Flick. The team has been on fire in 2025, remaining unbeaten in all 21 matches thus far, with the best attack in Europe, and they’re in a strong position to secure the club’s third treble.
Despite this success, Flick believes there’s still room for improvement. During a recent press conference, he was asked where the team could enhance their performance, and he pointed out a key area: minimizing opponents’ counterattacks when they lose possession.
He explained, “When we have the ball, we show great pace, but many teams know how to take advantage of our mistakes. We need to focus on this and cut down on opportunities for the other side. Sometimes we leave too much space for counter-attacks, and that’s something we need to change.”
It’s not surprising that teams can counter against Barça, considering their high defensive line. The ability to execute an effective offside trap has been essential to their success throughout the season. However, as they face stronger opponents, particularly in Europe, they can’t rely solely on this tactic. Improving their ball control and, importantly, enhancing their pressing when out of possession to quickly regain control is crucial. This will help them fend off potentially dangerous counterattacks as the competition heats up.
