If one is to pick a player who has been the most improved under Hansi Flick at Barcelona, it would almost certainly be Raphinha.
The Brazilian forward has reinvented himself and now presents a version that has never been seen before. While he was always a consistent performer for the Catalans, he has now become the centre of the team’s attack and the numbers speak loud.
One is forced to wonder, however, as to what has changed in recent months to trigger such an adaptation.
Manager’s impact
The 27-year-old was sensational in all the team’s first three games in La Liga, creating chances with his runs into the box and smart work on the ball. Combining directly with Pedri in central areas, his influence on the buildup phase has grown significantly.
Last night, however, he dropped one of the best nights of his career as he led Barcelona to a famous 7-0 win with a stunning hat-trick and one assist.
“My understanding of the need to adapt to any position. It plays a big role. The coach gives me a lot of confidence and I try to adapt as quickly as possible,” Raphinha told Barça One after the game when asked what Flick did differently to bring the best out of him.
Needless to say, the manager merits a lot of the credit as his idea of deploying the Brazilian in a central role just off a striker was unconventional.
Now, given the freedom to roam in the final third and jump into combinations, the team plays to his strengths.
Captaincy: A big responsibility
Many were surprised when it was announced that Raphinha would be one of Barcelona’s captains for this season. Four games into the campaign, not many can question the decision.
The Brazilian has not only shone on an individual level but is a vocal leader on the field for the Blaugrana. His ability to rally up his teammates and keep them focused on the game is unparalleled and conspicuous.
“I’m working hard to show the best version of myself. The most important thing is to help the team,” he said after last night’s game, once again radiating the same feeling.
He has done phenomenally so far in handling the responsibility of captaincy and has always been one to stand up for the club crest or his teammates.
Most importantly, however, he is now bestowed with the manager’s trust and it is clear that Flick only expects Raphinha to grow more in the coming days.
“Honestly, it took way too long for Raphinha to score a hat trick. He has the quality to do that. His form is spectacular, he’s roaming free on the pitch,” Flick said after the game
It will thus be interesting to see how he further moulds into his new role as the season progresses.
