Hansi Flick expresses desire to extend his contract with Barcelona.
Hansi Flick has expressed his desire to extend his contract with Barcelona and conclude his career at the club, driven by his ambition to guide them to Champions League triumph for the first time since 2015.
Flick’s existing contract is set to expire in 2027, but Barça president Joan Laporta has already indicated that the German manager will be presented with new terms.
This situation remains unchanged despite last week’s exit from Europe against Atlético Madrid, as Barça continues to pursue consecutive LaLiga titles under the leadership of the 61-year-old.
“This is my plan [to renew], of course,” Flick stated during a press conference prior to Wednesday’s LaLiga match against Celta Vigo at Spotify Camp Nou.
“I have also mentioned that, and this is completely honest, this is the final step in my career. I feel very positive about the current situation.”
Flick took over a Barça team that had not secured any trophies in the 2023-24 season and led them to victories in LaLiga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Supercopa in his inaugural season.
This year saw another Supercopa win, with a further league title appearing likely as the team holds a nine-point advantage over Real Madrid with only seven matches remaining.
However, they have struggled in European competitions, having been eliminated in the Champions League semifinal by Inter Milan last season and in the quarterfinals by Atlético last week. “For me, it’s a significant dream [to win the Champions League here],” Flick, who claimed the title as Bayern Munich coach in 2020, remarked.
“There are two objectives I have in life. First, to win the Champions League. We possess a strong team for the upcoming years, but we must make optimal decisions during the transfer windows—they need to be flawless.
“The second goal is to coach in this stadium [Camp Nou] when it is fully completed. I am uncertain when that will occur. You can never predict if [I will be here]. It depends on performance and victories.”
Reflecting on the defeat to Atlético, Flick indicated that a deficiency in leadership has affected Barça during critical moments.
“It was very painful,” he commented. “It was tough to exit. In these matches, sometimes it comes down to timing, but also to the finer details.
“Last season we had Iñigo [Martínez]. Iñigo was an excellent leader. This is also a lesson we are learning. We require players with this leadership on the field. This is crucial in these situations.
“It’s about communicating or advising a teammate ‘One or two meters left or right, or press.’ This is what we need on the field, more communication.
“In training, I am very pleased. However, in the moment, during a quarterfinal or semifinal in the Champions League, we also need players who are composed and can direct where we need to go on the pitch.
“This is essential. But the team is young. We will learn and improve. We must educate some players to do this, and we will accomplish that.”
