“It’s a Risky Strategy” – Joan García on Hansi Flick’s High-Line at FC Barcelona

Veteran shot-stopper Joan García has opened up about the bold defensive blueprint of coach Hansi Flick at FC Barcelona, describing it as “risky” yet capable of producing high rewards when executed correctly.

The high line in focus

García highlighted how Flick’s system places the back-line very far up the pitch. For goalkeepers, this means remaining alert throughout the 90 minutes, ready to counter sudden threats behind the defence. He noted:

“It’s a risky strategy, we have to acknowledge that. But if it’s done well and you work hard, it pays off.…” Barca Blaugranes+2Zamin.uz+2
He explained that by pushing the defence high and reducing space for opponents, the team forces rivals into hurried decisions and errors. That transition from defending to attacking is key in the system. Zamin.uz+1

Why the risk?

The fundamental danger of the high defensive line is the vulnerability to balls played in behind or rapid counters. As García admitted:

“Above all, he asks me to be alert to passes behind the defence. With the ball, he asks me to be confident, not to overcomplicate things…” Barca Blaugranes
And media analysis supports this: many clubs have begun to expose Barça by exploiting the space behind their high line. Tribuna+1

When it works — and when it doesn’t

When the system is executed with precision, Barcelona have shown dominance. For example, under Flick’s direction the team caught opponents offside a remarkable number of times, showcasing how well-drilled the high line can be.
On the flip side, García acknowledged that mistakes are statistically inevitable when you live on that razor’s edge.

What comes next for Barça?

García pointed out that while the belief in the approach remains strong, the team recognise they need to refine certain details this season:

“It works, that was clear last year, but this year we have to refine a couple of things. In every match, we try to see what went wrong.” Barca Blaugranes
With the coming months likely to bring tougher tests—especially in Europe—the balance between risk and reward will be under scrutiny.