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Since taking over as Barcelona’s new coach, Hansi Flick has changed many things in Catalonia.
Despite the recent drop in form, Barça remain a force to be reckoned with and much of that should be attributed to Flick and his strategies.
During his first four or five months in charge, one thing that particularly stood out is Flick’s ability to exploit substitutes.
Flick’s replacement strategy so far
In fact, an in-depth look at Flick’s approach throughout the season so far reveals some intriguing patterns in how he uses his equipment.
Flick has made five substitutions in 19 of the 24 games played this season, indicating that he is relying on his bench to alter the course of games or manage player fatigue.
This is also not surprising, as Flick comes from the Bundesliga, where the use of substitutions is common.
One of the most notable aspects of Flick’s strategy involves the management of key players.
Stars such as Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo have been substituted regularly, suggesting a focus on preserving their fitness for crucial moments later in matches or in subsequent games.
On the defensive side, Íñigo Martínez stands out as the most consistent starter and is rarely substituted.
However, it should be noted that Flick has also had to deal with a serious lack of depth when it comes to the central defensive unit.
Of course, the player who has seen the most action from the bench is Pedri, having been substituted 18 times.
This frequent rotation could reflect Flick’s strategy for managing the young midfielder’s playing time, balancing his development with the need to avoid burnout, which has perhaps been a key reason behind his strong performances this season.
Overall, Flick has taken a more complex and nuanced approach when it comes to substitutions. This is a new pivot from the Xavi era, who ran into several problems regarding substitutes.
