Barcelona Players Demand Fitness Staff Changes Amid Injury Crisis
Media reports have revealed growing dissatisfaction among Barcelona players regarding the methods of the team's fitness staff, amidst a series of muscle injuries that have plagued the Spanish club this season. Sources indicate that the majority of the squad has lost confidence in the current approaches, prompting them to convey their concerns directly to head coach Hans Flick in an attempt to find urgent solutions to this recurring problem that has threatened the stability of the starting lineup in important matches.
The players demanded changes to the physical preparation staff during a meeting with the German coach. However, Flick preferred to calm the situation for the time being, indicating his desire to fully assess the situation at the end of the season. Nevertheless, Flick was forced to acknowledge a problem after Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde suffered hamstring injuries. Hans Flick stated: “I will have to discuss the matter with the club's physical staff, as three players suffering hamstring injuries in one month is beyond belief.”
These developments come after sporting director Deco undertook a comprehensive restructuring of Barcelona's physical department last season, which included appointing Julio Tous to oversee the training program. This change was widely praised at the time and was credited for some of the team's successes. However, the current reality points to a long list of stars suffering from muscle problems, including Pedri González, Lamine Yamal, and Robert Lewandowski, in addition to defender Jules Kounde's anticipated month-long absence due to his recent injury.
The Catalan club is striving to overcome this technical and administrative crisis to ensure team stability in upcoming competitions, especially as the injury list has also included prominent names such as Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, and Andreas Christensen. Amidst this critical situation, sports circles are awaiting the outcome of Flick's meetings with the fitness coaches, and whether the club will respond to player pressure for immediate adjustments or wait until next summer as currently planned.
