Flick gets fully involved in Barça's election campaign
The manager praises Laporta and says his future depends on what happens in the elections.
BarcelonaThe Barça presidential elections have not yet been scheduled, although according to the club's statutes they must take place between March 15 and June 15. For weeks, even months, the candidates have been actively campaigning to raise their profile and present their proposals to the Barça fanbase. Joan Laporta, the incumbent president seeking re-election, has also been actively campaigning, recently intensifying his meetings with members to discuss his legacy and gather suggestions and concerns that will inform his electoral platform. As with any sports club, results are important, and lately, the current board has been enjoying good fortune. Regardless of the outcome in Villarreal, Barça will head into the Christmas break as leaders of the men's First Division. The women's team is progressing steadily in the Women's League and the Champions League, where they finished first in the group stage. While basketball is enjoying a golden moment since Xavi Pascual returned as coach, stringing together eight consecutive victories—the latest an epic three-overtime win that also set a EuroLeague scoring record—any candidate knows that having the support of professionals is equally important. Joan Laporta received a very pleasant surprise this afternoon when he heard Hansi Flick speak. In the lead-up to Sunday's league game at the Estadio de la Cerámica (4:15 p.m., DAZN), the German coach praised the current president, thanking him for hiring him a year and a half ago.
"Being a coach for a year and a half, especially here at Barça, is a long time. I'm very happy to be here at the club. The president is the reason I'm here, and I'm very happy because it's very important to have that confidence from him and the whole club. I think my coaching staff and everyone else notices it, and it's great to see. For me, it would be fantastic to be here another year and a half, but these things are also influenced by the president."
Flick's praise for Deco and the sporting management
Flick's response came in response to a question about his future with the Blaugrana. The German coach currently has a contract until 2027, but some reports indicate that initial contacts have already been made to extend it for another year, until 2028. In the press conference, he made it clear that he is in no hurry and will wait for the elections to decide. He never stated that his continued presence was solely dependent on Laporta's re-election, but he expressed satisfaction with the club's day-to-day operations. Flick didn't just praise Laporta. He also had very complimentary words for the sporting director, Deco. He said he "loved" working with him and emphasized that the work of Deco and his team in the sporting department is "incredible."
The coach's words represent a plot twist. Flick didn't begin this second season at the helm of Barça with a smile. According to various sources consulted by this newspaper, the manager was disappointed with how the transfer market had been handled, with the failure to sign Nico Williams when everyone considered it a done deal, the mess surrounding the Asian tour—both due to the delay and the travel logistics—and the fact that the official season started with Szczesny and Gersny unavailable. The attitude of some players in the first part of the season, the uncertainty about when Camp Nou would reopen, and a plague of injuries further strained the situation, resulting in images of a more nervous Hansi Flick than usual on the bench and in press conferences. All of this is now behind him, or so it seems after listening to a manager who, a year and a half later, knows perfectly well how the Barcelona environment works. Flick is happy and he's letting everyone know it. And Laporta is smiling because he's gained another ally in his battle for re-election. Meanwhile, the opposition is wrinkling its nose, aware that it will be difficult to defeat the president at the polls if the ball goes in and the most qualified employees say they are so happy working at this Barça.