Barcelona are preparing to kick off their new campaign on Saturday against Real Mallorca as the Catalan giants aim to defend their title.
Ahead of the opener, Hansi Flick has demanded his players begin the new campaign “like a rocket” and be a “steamroller from Day One,” according to AS.
Barcelona started last season in the same fashion, something Flick was keen to do as he expected new Real Madrid signing Kylian Mbappe to take a while to settle, which proved key in their run to the title.
Flick wants a repeat this season as he thinks Los Blancos (and Atletico Madrid) might start slowly again as a result of their Club World Cup efforts this summer.
Barcelona won 11 of their first 12 games last season, opening up a healthy lead, which then came in very handy indeed when they struggled towards the end of the year in what Flick famously termed their “sh*t November.”
And there’s another reason for Flick’s demand, too. He is also aware that the team’s strong finish to the campaign resulted in injuries to Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde, while Raphinha’s form dipped.
The feeling is that if Barcelona do have the cushion of a lead in the closing stages of the season, he will be able to rotate his team more, thus enhancing their chances in the Champions League.