Alaba ranks Hansi Flick NO.1 in team management style

Bayern Munich defender David Alaba has ranked Hansi Flick at number one among the coaches he has played with in team management ability

The Nigeria born Austrian international has played under six different coaches at Bayern including current coach Flick.

The 28 year old has played under Pep Guardiola, Jupp Heynckes, Carlo Ancelotti, Louis van Gaal and Niko Kovac but insists he has never seen the team led in the way Hansi Flick is doing so currently.

Interestingly Alaba has been one of the biggest beneficiaries at Bayern since Flick’s arrival as head coach, with the defender turning from world-class left-back to world-class centre-back.

The 6-time Austrian footballer of the year has played in all but three games under Flick since his initial appointment as interim coach in November, featuring in the centre of Bayern’s defence in all 28 of his appearances in that time across all competitions, noting that Flick’s way of leading has helped him to feel so comfortable through the transition.

“His door is always open – he has a very positive way of leading the team that I have never seen before,” Alaba told German sports magazine kicker. “I felt comfortable as a full-back, but that also applies to central defence. As a person on the pitch, I took another step forward because I can lead the team differently. It has always been my aspiration to take responsibility on and off the field and to develop. It worked quite well “he enthused.

Alaba and Bayern celebrated their eighth consecutive Bundesliga title in the 2019/20 season, coming from as far back as seventh in the table after 14 games to end up on top with a 13-point cushion over Borussia Dortmund.

Alaba’s ninth league title in total along with Thomas Müller, means he has matched Franck Ribery’s record for most Meisterschahe les lifted by a single player.

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It all comes from Bayern’s winning mentality, which Alaba says Flick knows all about.

“He conveys this hunger, we absorb it,” Alaba explained. “He’s formed a team that is in a good mood. We go into every game to win. Every single player is aware that we are Bayern. Everyone wants to embody that.”