Barcelona should always aim for LaLiga title,Hansi Flick says

Barcelona’s pursuit of La Liga glory has been reignited under the stewardship of their new manager, Hansi Flick. The Catalan giants have started the season strongly, securing two consecutive victories despite missing several key players, raising hopes and expectations around the prospects of a title-winning campaign.

Currently sitting at the top of La Liga alongside Celta Vigo, with six points from their first two matches, Barcelona now face a significant test as they prepare to travel to Madrid to face an unbeaten Rayo Vallecano. Rayo, who have stunned Real Sociedad with a 2-1 victory and held Getafe to a goalless draw, will be determined to maintain their unbeaten start. The match promises to be a stern test for Flick’s side, who will need to maintain their early momentum.

Flick, speaking at a press conference on Monday, emphasized the importance of targeting the La Liga title as Barcelona’s primary objective. “The goal in Barcelona should always be to win the league,” Flick asserted. “Sure, it’s a long road, but we have started well, although everything can change quickly. Now we are happy about our start and we are confident. We are not looking ahead to May, our focus is to keep momentum in the next game.”

Flick’s cautious optimism reflects the precarious nature of football, where early success can quickly be undone. However, his satisfaction with the team’s performances on the pitch is evident. “We are very satisfied with what the team is doing on the pitch. The quality of the training sessions is good, the players are very focused, the intensity is good… and you can see that in the matches,” Flick added.

Barcelona’s visit to Rayo Vallecano’s Vallecas Stadium will be anything but straightforward. The hostile environment and Rayo’s impressive start to the season could prove challenging for the in-form Barcelona, who have already dispatched formidable opponents like Valencia and Athletic Bilbao. These victories have provided some relief to a club embroiled in turmoil both on and off the pitch.

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The previous season was one to forget for Barcelona. They endured a trophyless campaign that culminated in the controversial firing of manager Xavi Hernandez. In a bid to reverse their fortunes, the club turned to Flick, the former Bayern Munich and Germany coach, hoping that his experience and tactical acumen would guide them back to the summit of Spanish football.

However, Flick’s task is far from easy. Barcelona’s financial woes have only deepened, forcing the club to take drastic measures to comply with La Liga’s stringent financial controls. The club is under immense pressure to reduce their first-team wage bill to allow the registration of new signings, including Spain international Dani Olmo.

The departure of key players like Ilkay Gundogan, who left as a free agent after just one season, and the loan exits of Clement Lenglet to Atletico Madrid and Vitor Roque to Real Betis, highlight the severity of Barcelona’s financial constraints. These moves were primarily driven by the need to clear their salaries off the books rather than for any tactical reasons.

Amidst these challenges, Flick remains hopeful that he will soon be able to count on Olmo, a player who was instrumental in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, finishing as one of the tournament’s top scorers. Olmo’s versatility and goal-scoring prowess would undoubtedly add a new dimension to Barcelona’s attack, providing Flick with more options as he seeks to build on the team’s promising start.

“I’m hopeful I can finally count on him tomorrow,” Flick said, expressing his desire to include Olmo in the squad. “I also hoped for him in the last game, but things are the way they are. It would be fantastic, but we’ll see what happens. It’s something we can’t control, neither the player nor the team, nor the coach… we know it’s a difficult circumstance. I’ve spoken to him, it’s a difficult situation. Of course, he is not happy, but he knows the circumstances. He is fit and ready to play if the call comes.”

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As Barcelona prepares to face Rayo Vallecano, the team’s focus will be on maintaining their early momentum and continuing their pursuit of La Liga glory under Flick’s guidance. The road ahead is long and fraught with challenges, but with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, Barcelona fans have reason to believe that their team can once again lift the La Liga title.