Can Hansi Flick's Barcelona actually win the Treble?

 We are approaching the final days of the season and Barcelona are top of the La Liga, into the semi final of the Champions League and will play the Copa Del Rey final against Real. Hansi Flick has completed changed the fortunes of the club since taking over from Xavi. With Raphinha and Yamal running down the wings and terrorizing defences, Pedri dominating every midfield in the world, Cubarsi and Martinez putting up offside traps to shut down attacks and Lewandowski scoring like Lewandowski does, Barcelona look like a team to be feared again. The talks of the treble started as early as December but the talks have started getting serious now that the Catalans are still in contention. But can they really win the treble?

The Hansi Flick effect

Hansi Flick is one of the best managers in the world. It's as simple as that. The man won the sextuple at Bayern and although he failed at Germany, he is showing his talents again at the Camp Nou. He has his limitations tactically if you compare him with the best tactical managers in the world but there are two factors that have helped Flick's appointment become the perfect appointment for Barcelona. 

Managers are not defined only by their tactics. There's a reason the likes of Sir Alex and Carlo Ancelotti have been so successful in football. They were of course top tactically but they were great man managers. They had the ability to bring the best out of the players and put belief in players. Flick is made of the same cloth. Flick is loved by his players and is a brilliant man manager. Barcelona needed someone like him and he has delivered. 

Hansi Flick has won one treble before at Bayern Munich.

Football as a whole over the last 15-20 years shifted to becoming more tactics based as individual quality started to decline especially in the last 6-7 years. But the paradigm has started to shift again. Just like Enrique's PSG, Flick's Barcelona is a tactically astute team but with touches of individualism and imperfection. The fans were complaining that football has started to become boring but these teams have caught the eyes of the fans and both are well poised to win the Treble.

The Players stepping up

Over the last few years many players have come to Barcelona with high expectations but have left the Catalan fans disappointed. But this season, every player has stepped up to the task. The recruitment over the last two years has been fantastic. Raphinha is flying down the wings like a man possessed. Lamine Yamal might be the best teenage prospect the world has ever seen. And Pedri is simply the best midfielder in the world right now. La Masia is Barcelona's gem for years and yet again the academy has stepped up to give another generation of wonderkids to the club. Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi and Fermin Lopez are playing like they have 10 years to experience. 

Raphinha is a potential Ballon D'Or candidate for 2025

Can Barcelona Reclaim their place in Europe?

For the past few seasons, Barcelona have watched Europe's elites from the sidelines. Humiliating defeats, group stages exits and even Europa league losses should not define a club like Barcelona. Add the financial turmoil and many were questioning if Barcelona would rise again in Europe. But this campaign has the Culers dreaming again.

Barcelona have historically been one of the best teams in European competitions

The overall lower quality of European football has helped Barcelona this season. The Premier league clubs have been underwhelming, Real Madrid's project has fallen apart and no other club is tactically or individually flawless. But doesn't take anything away from Flick's team. The team has a perfect mix of experienced leaders and homegrown young talents. This Barcelona team is reminding people why the club is feared by opponents. The Camp Nou maybe under construction but the soul of the club is restored again.

So... Can they win the Treble?

We are at a stage in the season where three clubs can win the treble. Barcelona, PSG and Inter. The refreshing thing about all these clubs is that they go against the recent football "meta" which saw the Premier league clubs dominate European football along with Real Madrid. All these clubs play refreshing yet different types of football which has fans hooked.

Now can Barcelona win the treble? It's not going to easy. Especially with them having to play Real and Inter twice in a matter of 11 days. But that's the part of winning the treble. The tough moments. The thin margins. The teams which come from these moments and grow are the teams which become the best.

This Barcelona team is special. They have the manager, the mentality and the squad. The dream is alive in Catalonia. And it does not feel like a fantasy now.

By Parth Gokhale