Understanding: Rethinking Flick's Tactical Choices

 The Thin Line Between Passion and Understanding: Rethinking Flick's Tactical Choices

A fan naturally cares about their team's results.

 In the end, all they want is to see their team win—this is a human instinct. However, that same fan does not have the right to distribute blame or credit arbitrarily. 

They are not sacred judges of elite coaches. It’s easy to call Flick a stubborn coach who clung to the offside trap until it led to his downfall. 

But instead of making such judgments, the fan should ask a simple question:

 Why didn't Flick change?

Asking this question begins a journey toward understanding the truth. One would discover that implementing a strong defensive system requires time—often an entire summer—just to prepare the team properly. 

A mid-season change is rarely effective. Upon learning this, the average fan might begin to empathize with Flick’s decisions.

If the fan continues questioning rather than judging, they'll understand why Flick chose the offside trap as a core idea. First, it complements his extreme style of play: high pressing, verticality, and direct football. Second, Flick believes that even if his team concedes one or two goals, scoring more than the opponent is what matters most. Third—and perhaps most analytically—when Flick studied the goals Barcelona conceded last season, he found that 82% came from crosses into the box. 

The offside trap helps neutralize these kinds of chances, forcing opponents to break the line before delivering a cross. This restricts their attacking options significantly.

If the fan persists in asking questions instead of making snap judgments, they'll eventually understand Flick’s conviction. 

They might even erase the harsh blog post they wrote the night before. They’ll realize that they had only scratched the surface, while the reality is far more complex than they imagined.

And this—this is only the beginning of a long and difficult journey to understand the intricacies of this beautiful game.