Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is now installed at the club, and will be trying to set out the fundamentals of his management plan. One of his staff members is playing a crucial role in putting across what he wants.
Despite not having officially been announced as part of Flick’s staff, Thiago Alcantara’s early days back at his boyhood club have been positive, say Sport. The 33-year-old only retired last week after leaving Liverpool, but has been asked by Flick to help out, as someone who speaks German, Spanish and can interpret his ideas.
Thiago has been heavily involved in training, as a key part of the communication between the squad and the coaching staff, translating specific concepts and clarifying points for Flick. The Bavarian likes to intervene in training regularly, and in particular with the younger players, and Thiago has been a big help with that.
Pablo Torre's injury is not that serious, and it doesn't prevent him from going to the US tour. @jcarnesempere
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) July 17, 2024
So far he has not settled a contract with Barcelona, and has not been confirmed as part of the staff as he does not want to tie himself down in the medium to long-term, and has only committed to helping out with Flick’s adaptation to the club.
One of the unseen aspects of football is often the make up of a coaching staff, which is probably given too little weight in the external analyses, as they simply are not visible in terms of the media and as public personalities. However Flick, given he is coming into a completely different culture late in his career, will need to lean on the likes of Thiago and Heiko Westermann, who played for Real Betis.
