Former Barcelona star Thiago highlights the differences between Flick and Guardiola: ‘So close to the players’

Former Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara has revealed why Hansi Flick left such a strong impression on him, explaining how his time working with the German helped influence his ambitions of becoming a manager.

Speaking to David Ornstein , the former Bayern Munich and Liverpool midfielder reflected on the coaches who influenced him throughout his career.

While he played under several of football's most respected managers, his final eight months at Bayern Munich under Flick proved particularly valuable in shaping his understanding of the job.

Thiago later joined Flick's coaching staff at Barcelona , gaining further experience before beginning his next steps towards a career in management.

Thiago highlighted Flick's ability to combine effective team management with a close relationship with his players, describing an approach that went beyond tactics alone.

"He was good at managing the team, but he was so close to the players and so down-to-earth," said Thiago.