At the FC Barcelona press conference on Thursday, new manager Hans-Dieter Fricker was officially unveiled and spoke to the media and fans about his soccer philosophy, his views on the current state of the team and his expectations for the future.
Frick began by talking about his style of soccer, stating, "My style is not far from what Barcelona had in mind before, when they achieved great success under Cruyff and Guardiola. What I am after is a team that is dynamic on the field, both with and without the ball, showing their ability and determination. We will use a flexible formation, whether it is 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, and it is important to play beautiful soccer, with great technique and a great game, so that everyone watching the game can feel the dedication and passion of the team."
Speaking about his meeting with former coach Pep Guardiola, Furyk said, "It's always encouraging to talk to Guardiola, but what we talk about is private and needs to be kept with respect and understanding." He didn't reveal too much about the specifics of their exchanges, but it was clear that he respected and learned from his predecessor.
Regarding the current situation of the team, Frick specifically mentioned Fathi's injury. He said, "Fathi's injury is a shame, he showed great form on the first day of training. Although he won't be playing in the upcoming tour, we will give him our full support to recover and help him get stronger. Injuries are part of soccer and we have to accept and overcome them."
Speaking about the pre-season schedule, Frick revealed, "We will be taking 30 or 31 players to the United States for training, and I hope to meet each of them and assess their form and ability through training and games."
On his dream of coaching Barcelona, Frick said, "It would be a great honor for me to be the manager of one of the greatest clubs in the world. I have already shared my story in interviews, from being invited by Nike to play at the Camp Nou to finally becoming Barcelona's head coach, it's all like a dream. I will cherish this opportunity and give my best to lead the team to success."
Speaking about the team's back issues, Frick said he is very satisfied with the players currently in the team and emphasized that all players need to be clear about their responsibilities and the team's requirements. He believes that the problem can be solved through the team's joint efforts.
On his goals for the new season, Frick said, "La Liga is an important tournament, but our goal is not just to win the league. At Barcelona, we always want to compete for all the trophies. We will work very hard to achieve this goal. Of course, the specific tactics and strategies I will develop and refine with the players over the next few weeks."
In addition, Frick also talked about the rumors about Nico Williams and the pressure of coaching Barcelona. He said that he is focused on the team itself and will not pay too much attention to the rumors in the transfer market; he also said that he will take the pressure of coaching well and is confident to lead the team to achieve good results.
Finally, Frick also spoke about the role of players from the La Masia youth academy in the team. He said that Barcelona has done a great job in developing the young players and has seen their potential and strength. He believes that these young players will play an important role in future matches and expects them to bring more surprises and contributions to the team.
