Hansi Flick, the new Barcelona manager, is known for being a physically demanding coach as it is evident that he expects his players to be extremely active and physically fit on the field.
However, it must not be forgotten that while this tactic of his has worked at Bayern Munich, Barcelona have faced problems in the past with their players getting injured due to being overworked.
Players like Pedri, Gavi, and Ansu Fati have all become more prone to injuries because they played too much without enough rest.
Even last season, key players such as Frenkie de Jong and Marc Andre-ter Stegen missed many games because of injuries and this is a problem that both Barcelona and Flick want to avoid in the future.
It is to be noted that Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, pointed out that one of the big challenges during Xavi’s time as manager was that the players’ physical performance often dropped after the 60th minute of matches.
Xavi’s team did not agree with this assessment, but it remains an issue that needs addressing.
Flick planning big changes at Barcelona
To tackle this challenge, Flick and the Barcelona team are planning to work together to improve the players’ fitness.
They believe that a detailed plan to prepare the squad physically during the preseason and maintain their fitness levels throughout the season will help avoid muscle injuries.
Reports from Germany suggest that Dr. Holger Broich, who was in charge of physical preparation during Flick’s successful time at Bayern Munich, might join Barcelona.
Now, Broich is still under contract with Bayern, but his contract ends at the end of this month and if he joins Barcelona, he would bring valuable expertise to the team.
Flick wants rigorous sessions
It is said that Flick plans to take several steps to reduce the risk of injuries among his players and one of these steps is to increase the amount of time players spend in the gym to strengthen their muscles.
His staff will also closely monitor the players, giving extra attention to those who need it to ensure they stay fit and healthy.
In summary, Barcelona have faced issues with player injuries due to overworking in the past, and they want to avoid this in the future in collaboration with Flick.
The team plans to work closely with the new manager to improve the players’ fitness, with a detailed plan for preseason and ongoing fitness maintenance and there could be a new physical trainer coming in at the club.
