BARCELONA: Barcelona manager Hansi Flick was thrilled with the overall performance of his players throughout a dominant season that culminated in a 28th La Liga title for the club on Thursday after they beat Espanyol 2-0, securing an unassailable seven-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid with two games left to play.

Unbeaten since late December in domestic competition, Barcelona also won the Spanish Super Cup in January and the Copa del Rey by beating Real in the final.

“I think especially in the second part of the season we have been amazing. We haven’t lost a game and that’s just great. Congratulations to the team, the club and the fans. We are very happy with what we have achieved,” Flick told a press conference early Friday after his side reclaimed the Spanish throne from arch-rivals Real.

The remarkable domestic treble marks a surprising turnaround for Barca, considering the turbulence on and off the pitch when Flick replaced Xavi Hernandez as manager a year ago.

The German tactician, who was sacked as German national team coach in September 2023 following a string of defeats, has orchestrated a renaissance that transcends mere results.

In a season where Barca have scored an astonishing 95 goals in 35 league matches — 23 more than Real —Flick has reintroduced attacking verve to a club that treats entertaining football as religion.

Flick was tasked with reviving Barcelona’s fortunes after the Catalan side failed to win any trophies in Xavi’s last season, with their on-field struggles exacerbated by turmoil off the pitch, including deepening financial problems and a refereeing scandal that could drag on for years in Spanish justice.

Flick inherited a squad of highly talented players who were eager to prove their value amid the clubs off pitch struggles. He was instrumental in blocking the outside noise, shielding the changing room with a ‘stick to football’ mentality.

The players embraced the relentless work ethic and intensity Flick brought to the club, turning negative vibe around the club into motivation.

“I don’t think I had enough time to explain it throughout the season but I put a lot of value to the culture we have created, this family we have created,” he said.

“I think the most important thing is... it’s really fantastic that everyone at this club has their job and they’re doing it with a lot of passion, a really good attitude and mentality, and everyone knows how important they are.

“This helps a lot to reach our goals, and of course the players and the atmosphere in the dressing room, this is so great, I never had this before. Everyone really takes care of each other and... it’s unique.”

Flick praised teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who opened the scoring against Espanyol with a superb strike in the second half, but insisted that Barcelona are much more than just the 17-year-old winger.

“It’s Barcelona’s La Liga. It’s not about one player, of course Lamine has been important, but we are a team and that’s the most important thing. The team as a whole,” Flick said.

“Everyone has done their job very well. We are a team. This is what we wanted. We have given the best version for this club. All the fans can be proud. Lamine has already scored more goals like this. He trains every day that same move, but today was just a perfect goal.”

Yamal opened the scoring after 53 minutes of a tense derby clash with what is becoming his trademark move. The wing wizard took the ball on the right touchline and made a superb lateral run parallel to the edge of the box before unleashing a curling strike between two defenders and into the top corner.

Yamal’s goal worked as a confidence boost as Barca took control and, after Leandro Cabrera was sent off with a straight red for elbowing Yamal in the body in the 80th minute, substitute Fermin Lopez drilled past Joan Garcia to wrap up the win to begin the title celebrations.

BILBAO REACH CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Elsewhere on Thursday, Athletic Bilbao sealed Champions League qualification with a 2-0 win at Getafe.

Ernesto Valverde’s side missed out on reaching the Europa League final in Bilbao this season after their semi-final defeat by Manchester United, but eased the pain by guaranteeing a top-five finish in La Liga.

Athletic are fourth and now eight points clear of sixth-place Real Betis, ensuring they will play in Europe’s premier competition.

The Basque side last played Champions League football in the 2014-15 season, but failed to get out of the group, and have never won a European trophy.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2025