Barcelona are champions - thank you Hansi Flick
Barcelona won La Liga on Thursday night with a fine win against Catalan rivals Espanyol on their own pitch to end what’s been a brilliant season for Hansi Flick’s side.
There’s no doubt that Barca have been the best team in Spain and they end the campaign with La Liga, Copa del Rey and Super Cup titles. They weren’t too far away in the Champions League either but that’s a story for another day.
No-one foresaw this at the start of the season when Flick took over, with the freshly-arrived Kylian Mbappe expected to lead Real Madrid to another title win instead.
Yet Madrid have been beaten four times by Barcelona this season, and the German coach has built something quite remarkable with a squad containing a 35-year-old recently retired goalkeeper, a bunch of incredible kids, some free transfers, a few outcasts and a future GOAT.
They’ve also had to overcome tragedy to do it during a season where we lost Carles Miñarro, with the late first-team doctor very much in Flick’s thoughts after the game.
“Carles is now here,” he said. “He’d very proud about our team, what we saw in the last couple of months, so we think about him always. We don’t forget him, because he was a great part of our team and will always have a place in our hearts.”
And they’d done it with style and verve, too. Yes they give teams far too many chances but who hasn’t absolutely loved watching Barca bang in the goals left, right and centre all season long?
The fact they ended Thurday’s match with seven La Liga graduates on the pitch - Hector Fort, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde, Gavi, Fermin Lopez and Yamal - spoke volumes.
As Flick said himself afterwards: “We have the potential to be even better.”
What now for Eric and Christensen?
Eric’s redemption story continued against Espanyol with the versatile star putting in another excellent shift at right-back. Flick is clearly a big fan of Garcia, and his ability to play at full-back, in central defence and midfield means he has suddenly become a real asset.
Andreas Christensen may also be giving Barcelona plenty to think about. The Dane missed virtually the whole season through injury and then came back and looked like he’d never been away in the final weeks.
There’s been plenty of talk about Christensen leaving this summer but if Barca can keep him fit then there’s no doubt he’s a quality option for the squad.
RCD Espanyol de Barcelona v FC Barcelona - La Liga EA Sports Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
What happens now remains to be seen. Barca are said to want to bring in a new full-back and center-back this summer but finances are still an issue and are reportedly the reason why a move for Jonathan Tah has collapsed.
Letting Eric go seems almost unthinkable now, while it’s not guaranteed Christensen will be moved on either.
Barca therefore look to have some big decisions to make regarding their backline ahead of an intriguing summer transfer window.
It had to be Lamine Yamal
Barcelona’s title win was effectively sealed by Lamine Yamal’s incredible strike against Espanyol and it was fitting it was the 17-year-old genuis who delivered the title for Hansi Flick’s side.
Yamal doesn’t turn 18 until July but we’re already running out of superlatives for Barca’s latest gem. He didn’t just score the goal, he was in Espanyol’s heads before, during and after the game and ensured they went down to 10 men when Leandro Cabrera foolishly lashed out.
And when it comes to the big occasion this season Yamal has stepped it up. He was brilliant against Inter in the Champions League, scored another stunner in the Clasico and broke the deadlock against Espanyol to send Barca on their way to the title.
His goal was no surprise either. Pedri revealed he’d scored a couple just like that in the warm-up, while Hansi Flick said afterwards he does it in training all the time.
The goal means that Yamal now has 17 goals and 25 assists in 53 matches across all competitions this season. He’s also won the double, may well pick up the Ballon d’Or and simply has the world at his feet right now.
What a player. What a team. What a season!