Former star in awe of Hansi Flick’s Barcelona – ‘Every match is an adventure’

Jose Mari Bakero is a name that carries enormous weight in Barcelona’s history, having been one of the key figures in Johan Cruyff’s legendary Dream Team of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Speaking to Flashscore (h/tMundo Deportivo) in an extensive interview to mark the release of his new book, Bakero shared his thoughts on the current Barcelona side under Hansi Flick.

Bakero on Barcelona’s game under Hansi Flick

Talking about Barcelona’s style of play under Flick, Bakero offered a distinct view as to how the Catalans play football.

“Every match is an adventure. And for those who aren’t Barça fans, it’s fantastic, because I think if you love football, you have to turn on Barça and say, ‘Let’s see how many goals they score and how many they concede,” he said .

Despite the entertainment value, the former midfielder was measured in his overall assessment, suggesting the project is still very much a work in progress.

“We’re lacking players with a certain level of experience, and naturally, the youngsters need to gradually gain experience,” he added.

Bakero went on to talk about Barcelona’s injury record, and they have played a part in stifling the club’s growth.

Bakero believes Barcelona must balance experience and youth. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

“There have been many more injury problems. And so, when you have these kinds of injuries and this kind of gritty football, you have to take a step back and review things.

“Because teams need a balance of qualities. That is, you need technical, tactical players, but you also need players with intensity,” he said.

He pointed specifically to the dip in form from Robert Lewandowski and the absence of Raphinha as examples of how thin the margins are at the highest level.

“To compete at the highest level in Europe, you have to have everyone firing on all cylinders,” he said, adding that a winning team must have “four, five, or six top-class players. And if you don’t have them, you miss them.”

Bakero also talked about the importance of blending experience with youth, something he feels Barcelona are still working to get right.

“I believe they need to be combined, but he has some very young players. Because, for example, it’s not just about what happens on the field, which is also important, but also off the field, in the day-to-day.

“Teams aren’t built on what we see in the game. Teams are built by talking after the game, talking after training, seeing how the veterans can guide the younger players.”

“It’s a process. I always say that the greatest improvements in sports happen quietly, because they have to occur without noise, between people, between teammates,” he concluded.