Pep Guardiola Reveals Why He’s a 'Big Fan' of Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, Sound European Warning
Pep Guardiola has expressed his admiration for the work being carried out by Hansi Flick at Barcelona, describing himself as a "big fan" of the German coach and the style of football being played by the Spanish champions.
Pep Guardiola praises Hansi Flick's Barcelona project while warning about the pressures of Champions League football.
Speaking at the inauguration of a new Cruyff Court at his former school, La Salle Manresa, Guardiola praised the progress Barcelona have made under Flick despite the immense expectations that come with managing the club.
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Guardiola Impressed by Flick's Barcelona
Since taking charge of the Catalan side, Flick has led Barcelona to two consecutive La Liga titles and earned recognition as the league's best coach in both campaigns. While domestic success has followed, the club continues its search for a Champions League triumph, with its last European crown coming in 2015.
Guardiola believes Barcelona have built a strong foundation and has been particularly impressed by both their performances and playing style.
"I'm a big fan of Hansi, of how they do it and for many years," Guardiola told reporters. "They are Barca players, whether they are from La Masia or from outside, they do it very well. They have had two extraordinary years, beyond the results, how well they have done and how attractive it is to see them play."
Champions League Expectations Can Be Dangerous
Although Guardiola praised Barcelona's development, he also stressed that success in the Champions League should not become the sole measure of a team's progress.
The former Barcelona manager pointed to the unpredictable nature of knockout football and warned against allowing European disappointment to overshadow broader achievements.
"The Champions League destroys projects, I hope that is not the case and that the fact of not winning it does not condition everything else," he warned. "La Liga is the one that gives you consistency. In the Champions League you have to arrive well at the end, without injuries, the influence of the referees is great in this competition."
Domestic Success Remains the True Benchmark
For Guardiola, a team's long-term quality is reflected in its consistency throughout a league season rather than solely by results in Europe.
He encouraged Barcelona's decision-makers and supporters to focus on the team's continued growth rather than judging a campaign exclusively by Champions League outcomes.
"The important thing is that the day-to-day is good, that the team continues to grow and that they do not think that by not reaching the Champions League final or not winning it, the season is bad," Guardiola explained. "What marks the base of a season are the league titles."
Guardiola Discusses His Own Future and Top Talents
Having recently concluded his decade-long spell at Manchester City, Guardiola also spoke about his own future plans. While joking about becoming a teacher at his former school, he admitted that he has not yet decided on his next professional step.
"Now I want to settle here for a while and I'll see what I do. I don't even know myself," he admitted.
Guardiola also offered praise for Bernardo Silva and Julian Alvarez. When asked whether Silva would fit into Barcelona's squad, he left little room for doubt.
"Bernardo would adapt to any team. He is too good."
He also highlighted Alvarez's quality, adding that "City has them all very good."