During 2024-2025, Hansi Flick’s high-line was seen as self-destructive. The media and fans deemed it too risky despite seeing some merit in it. His hyper-attacking style appeared to be a radical culture change, though by the end of the season, most were on board with it.
Fast forward a few months, and the Catalan media is back on Flick’s ears, requesting a philosophy adjustment. Recent losses against PSG (1-2) and Sevilla (1-4), just before the international break, have caused concerns about the coach’s methods. Is it possible that his squad is too vulnerable defensively?
Inside today’s session. 📽 pic.twitter.com/oJyH32dcFJ
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 9, 2025
Yes, Flick’s bet paid off last season. However, there were two important conditions. The first revolved around the style itself. Everyone needed to press, which is where Raphinha and Fermín were crucial as high-volume pressers. Gavi would have been ideal for this role, but injury ruled him out for the entire campaign.
The high line meant everyone needed to be in sync, especially at the back. It was hazardous due to players like Ronald Araújo, who rely on their physicality more than their interpretation of the game.
Flick lost an important player in defence
This condition came with another, the exclusive role of Iñigo Martínez. He may not have Araújo’s legs, and it indeed became a problem towards the end of the season. But his unique sense of playmaking from the back by repeatedly pushing higher to force the opponent in their own backyard was a unique asset.
While Flick was requesting reinforcements, Martínez left for Saudi Arabia two weeks before the season started. As surprising as it might sound, there are few players who can replicate what Martínez did for the team. As a consequence, the head coach was forced to reshuffle his backline instead of being granted additional signings in the summer transfer window.
Inigo Martinez masters every aspect of the game.
— Al Nassr Zone (@TheNassrZone) October 9, 2025
With Raphinha and Fermín’s injuries, the house of cards fell apart. Suddenly, Flick was without high-volume pressers in the attack and a reshuffled backline. Even worse, Alejandro Balde’s injury forced Flick to play the more vulnerable Gerard Martin in the left-back role.
Though not the worst full-back, he struggled against Europe’s elite, as evidenced against Paris Saint-Germain. The situation also led to internal unrest, and defender Pau Cubarsí pointed fingers at the attackers: “the pressing must begin from those at the front”, he lamented after the 1-4 defeat to Sevilla.
To the average fan, Sevilla might have seemed like an exception. A more detailed analysis reveals otherwise. Goalkeeper Joan García’s absence due to injury was noticeable, as he helped the backline in evading the opponent’s press, which resulted in a loss of confidence under pressure. Additionally, his shot-stopping skills were greatly missed as well.
Pau Cubarsi: “Flick knows how to push the player. He’s friendly, but when it’s time to demand more, he really pushes.” pic.twitter.com/qfySA2bNrp
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) October 8, 2025
Even worse, the Eric García-Cubarsí partnership lacks balance. The two players have a similar profile, and as such, do not fit together, while Koundé had a howler on this specific day. However, as Cubarsí, not everything can be traced back to the defence. If the backline is getting outnumbered, it means that the issue started higher up on the pitch, due to a lack of pressing intensity in the frontline.
The forwards need to press again
Without Raphinha and Fermín, a lot changed in Flick’s balancing act. While Marcus Rashford can be excused due to his improvement on the ball, he remains too passive for a Barcelona player off the ball.
The coach already faced issues on the frontline due to Robert Lewandowski, whose advanced age results in him pressing less than his teammates. He recently returned from injury, meaning he pressed even less than usual.
Before his most recent injury, Lamine Yamal would complete the attacking trio with Raphinha and Lewandowski. Lamine Yamal, who focuses on outdribbling his opponents, also lowered his pressing intensity in recent weeks. Similar to other attackers, his lack of defensive commitment creates an imbalance while the team is pressing.
Lamine Yamal madness 🤯🥵#UCL pic.twitter.com/JM5lzFBpXM
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 3, 2025
The defensive issues are not the only problem in the aftermath of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha’s injuries. The two were key in Flick’s offensive setup as well. Neither of them represented the ideal forward, but they complemented each other’s shortcomings.
Yamal was the one-on-one dribbler, while Raphinha would attack the spaces behind the defenders. Especially with Fermín also ruled out, Hansi Flick’s attacking patterns needed to be reinvented due to the exceptional circumstances.
The midfield bears the burden
If the defence is not getting out of pressure as easily, while the attack falls short in pressing and creativity, the burden on both ends falls on the center of the pitch. Flick’s midfield was always going to be squashed if their attack or defense didn’t perform, and the aftermath is two worn out players.
This was noticed against PSG, where Pedri seemed out of rhythm by the end of the first half. Frenkie de Jong’s case was similar, although arguably less extreme.
When midfielders spend more time doing additional tasks, the team gets less out of their creativity, which is detrimental to the team’s attacking patterns. This is especially true of Pedri, around whom Barcelona’s system is built.
55 – Players with most recoveries in top five European leagues this season:
55 – PEDRI 🇪🇸
55 – Elliot Anderson 🏴
52 – Álvaro Carreras 🇪🇸
50 – Pathé Ciss 🇸🇳
50 – Mikel Jauregizar 🇪🇸
50 – Adrien Thomasson 🇫🇷Solution. 🧙 pic.twitter.com/Mt2suVfY0q
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) October 8, 2025
As an all-purpose midfielder, he assists whichever teammates require help. As brilliant as he is, Pedri also needs rest, though no player can fill in for him. Flick has tried to include Pedro ‘Dro’ Fernández (academy graduate) to alleviate the creative burden of the double-pivot. However, he has struggled to adapt to the intensity of the first division.
Flick must stick to his philosophy
All of these issues explain why Barcelona’s engine seems to have broken halfway through the first part of the season. For many fans online, this is a valid reason to doubt the success of his “all-in” philosophy.
Flick is not the first coach to have second thoughts about his methodology, due to the numerous injuries in his squad. Bayern Munich’s Vincent Kompany suffered a similar fate last year, when results seemed to warrant an adjustment to his ideas. Instead, Kompany persisted in his beliefs, and they eventually paid off.
Pedri excellence 😮💨#WCQ pic.twitter.com/HrXGHLd3UW
— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) October 8, 2025
Similarly, Hansi Flick only needs to change a few details, and the rewards will soon be visible. Some clarity may be required. Even Pedri, believed to be one of the smartest in the squad, admitted after the first half against PSG that “we didn’t know what we were doing with the ball”.
The coach may need to redistribute ball-playing responsibilities following Martinez’s departure. A majority of the defensive issues cannot be solved by replacing a player with another; instead, Flick should look to readjust his high-line and adapt to players who cannot run as much as he would like under this risky scheme.
