Lamine Yamal’s hat-trick
©IMAGO
Hansi Flick played his 100th game as a coach on the FC Barcelona sidelines against Villarreal (4-1). The German’s anniversary marked not only a statistical milestone, but also a period in which the Catalans returned to stable sporting waters. In addition to four titles, the former national coach also established a clear playing style in the eyes of many fans and experts that combines efficiency with attractiveness. “What I love about Barça is that I felt like part of a family from day one,” Flick said before the game.
The anniversary is a “great honor” for him, and the solidarity within the entire team is great. 75 wins, nine draws and 16 defeats as well as a goal tally of 281 scored and 119 conceded are recorded during the 61-year-old’s tenure. This corresponds to an average of 2.34 points per game – only two trainers with at least 100 games under their belt have a better record in historical comparison: Pep Guardiola achieved an average of 2.36 points in 247 games, Luis Enrique even has 2.41 points from 181 games.
In the LaLiga comparison, among the coaches who have played more than 50 league games, only Guardiola (2.45 points per game) and José Mourinho (2.43) have a better points average than Flick (2.37). In other words: Flick is the third best coach in the history of the Spanish upper house.
At Barça, only 14 coaches reached the 100 mark. The ranking of coaches with the most games is led by none other than Johan Cruyff (421), followed by Frank Rijkaard (273), Rinus Michels (267) and Guardiola (247). However, when it comes to the total number of titles, the German is still a long way from Guardiola’s 14 successes or Cruyff’s eleven trophies.
After 26 match days, Barcelona is currently leading the table ahead of Real Madrid. Following the 4-1 win against Villarreal, in which top youngster Lamine Yamal scored three goals, Flick said: “I would like to praise the entire team. When we lost the ball, we pressed very well and that’s exactly what we need.” He still had special praise for one of the three most valuable players in the world.
“He’s exceptional and he’s here to make people happy. His goals give him confidence. He’s still very young and still needs to improve, but everyone knows his potential. The opponents put two or three players on him, which makes it difficult for him. I’m very happy for him. If he enjoys football, it’s perfect for him and for us.”
