Hansi Flick Declares Barcelona as His Final Club
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Madrid, March 17 (NationPress) Hansi Flick, the head coach of FC Barcelona, announced on Tuesday that he does not foresee taking on another role after his tenure at the club. He emphasized that the timing is not right for discussions regarding a contract extension. Currently 61 years old, Flick is under contract with Barcelona until June 2027. Following his reelection on Sunday, club president Joan Laporta expressed a desire for the German coach to renew his stay for at least another year.
During a pre-match press conference ahead of Barcelona's Champions League clash against Newcastle United, Flick revealed that he had a conversation with Laporta, who highlighted the necessity of having a structure that fosters stability, as reported by Xinhua.
When probed about the possibility of an extension, Flick stated: "I don't think it's the right time... It's well-known that I'm very happy here, but I need to discuss this with my family. There will be an opportunity to talk, but now isn't the moment."
"It's evident that I cherish working here. The key factor is that I feel I am part of a wonderful family: I have the backing of Barcelona, but this is football. My goal is to help us reach our highest potential," Flick added. He also reassured fans that he is "not contemplating going anywhere else."
"This will be my final club, my last job, and I am thrilled," he concluded, shifting his focus to Wednesday's match, which comes after a 1-1 draw against Newcastle last week.
Barcelona managed to secure a 1-1 draw in Newcastle a week prior, courtesy of Lamine Yamal's last-minute penalty after a lackluster performance at St. James' Park, positioning Hansi Flick's side as the favorites for the return leg.
Flick decided to rest Yamal and Fermin Lopez during Sunday's impressive 5-2 victory over Sevilla, and the ease of that win allowed him to substitute other key players such as Pedri, Joao Cancelo, and Marc Bernal in the second half to provide them with much-needed recuperation.
On Sunday, the Barcelona coach acknowledged the need for careful management of Pedri to prevent a recurrence of the muscle issues he has encountered this season, although with Frenkie de Jong still unavailable, the Spain international is anticipated to start on Wednesday night.