LaLiga
Flick wants to emulate Pep and Cruyff at Barcelona
Hansi Flick insists he is 100 per cent motivated to lead Barcelona to a third-straight LaLiga title and follow in the footsteps of Pep Guardiola and Johan Cruyff.… Show More
Hansi Flick insists he is 100 per cent motivated to lead Barcelona to a third-straight LaLiga title and follow in the footsteps of Pep Guardiola and Johan Cruyff.
Flick has enjoyed a dream two years so far with Barcelona, claiming back-to-back top-flight crowns while also winning the Copa del Rey once and the Supercopa de Espana twice.
The 61-year-old has already put pen to paper on a new contract with the Blaugrana, keeping him with the LaLiga giant until June 2028 as he eyes more silverware.
In the club's history, only two managers have won three consecutive LaLiga titles. Cruyff won four in a row between 1990-1991 and 1993-1994, while Guardiola produced a three-peat from 2008-2009 to 2010-2011.
"I'm one hundred percent motivated to win the third. We have to play our best football, but it's the big objective," Flick said on emulating those achievements.
"We will give everything to achieve it. Other clubs will also want to win LaLiga, but it's our goal."
Flick's comments came after former Barcelona boss Guardiola announced he would be leaving Manchester City at the end of the season after a trophy-laden decade at the club.
Guardiola, who left Barcelona in 2012 before joining Bayern Munich a year later, confirmed his decision on Friday ahead of City's final game of the 2025-2026 campaign.
The Spaniard departs the Citizens as one of the most successful managers in Premier League history, having delivered six titles in 10 seasons.
Asked whether he would be keen to spend 10 years with Barcelona, Flick insisted that was not going to happen.
"Ten years, me, here? I don't think so," Flick said.
"At 70 years old, it wouldn't be good if I were here. Pep is incredible, 10 years at that level.
"Pep is the best coach in the world. He has shown it year after year. Even when things were not going well, he knew how to manage the situation.
"He always finds a solution to improve, as can be seen in the titles he has achieved. It's exceptional. I wish him rest, but I hope he comes back because he is young."
But Flick will be hoping to end Barcelona's domestic campaign on a high when his team makes the trip to take on Valencia, which has an outside chance of qualifying for Europe.
Valencia is ninth and two points behind Getafe, which occupies the place for the UEFA Conference League qualifiers.
Barcelona will be without Fermin Lopez, who underwent successful surgery on a fractured foot after making 48 appearances in all competitions, for the Blaugrana, registering 13 goals as well as a joint-team-high number of assists – 17, level with Lamine Yamal.
"It's very hard. He has played an outstanding season. It hurts him and us," Flick said of Fermin.
"We expected him to play in the [2026 FIFA] World Cup, it's the dream of any player, to be with Spain. Life is like that. He will have to continue working.
"We support him and I'm sure he'll come back stronger."
