Flick is one of those coaches who manages to change teams; whichever team he goes to, that team shows its best football. With a lot of experience and precise tactics, the German has managed to make Barça take a step forward. In fact, the fans are happier than ever with the squad's performance, and achievements are starting to come.
Barça has gone through a very bad period, but little by little it has managed to recover, despite all the adversities. With a limited budget, Flick has managed to make all the pieces fit perfectly. Unfortunately, now, one of his best players won't be available for tomorrow's final.
Flick and the winning team
Flick arrived at Barça after the dismissal of Xavi Hernández as a personal bet by the board; especially, by Laporta and Deco. The way the former coach was let go wasn't correct, but the change itself has been positive. Since the former Bayern coach landed in the Ciudad Condal, the team's play has improved more than expected.
Each and every one of the players has demonstrated their talent and made it clear that they can compete at the highest level. Tomorrow, Barça faces Real Madrid in the Cup final, something that was unthinkable years ago. The bad news is that there are several stars who won't be available, and one of them is very important.
We are talking about Alejandro Balde, the left-back who has secured an undisputed starting position at Barça. Last year, the young player suffered a serious injury after being overshadowed by Cancelo, who took his minutes. Balde has been key throughout the entire season, but now he will watch the final from the stadium stands.
Alejandro Balde, Flick's favorite
Last year, Xavi preferred Cancelo, and Alejandro Balde, who wasn't going through a good moment, ended up losing confidence. After recovering from an injury, he came back strong and is now untouchable for Flick. Although Gerard Martín is a good option, he is far from being what Balde is.
Although he was supposed to be available, Alejandro Balde's camp states that he won't make it to the final. Although losing Alejandro is terrible for Barça, it is expected that Gerard Martín will do well.