Key Takeaways:
- Barcelona stars expressed their dissatisfaction with the club’s fitness methods to manager Hansi Flick earlier this season
- The Catalan side have faced a string of injuries, including Pedri missing 13 matches and recent hamstring setbacks for Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde
- Hansi Flick publicly admitted frustration after three hamstring injuries within one month, stating he would discuss the issue with the fitness staff following Tuesday night’s match
Persistent Fitness Issues This Season
Barcelona’s competitive edge last campaign was underpinned by the robust physical condition of their core squad members, notably as Pedri remained fit for an extended spell. With few injuries disrupting his squad, Hansi Flick rarely needed to rotate his line-up, a luxury not afforded him this season.
🚨🚨| JUST IN: Barcelona’s squad are unhappy with the club’s fitness staff, blaming them for the high number of muscle injuries and relapses.
Some players have started working with their own physios and have informed Hansi Flick.
[@mundodeportivo] pic.twitter.com/8d4FUGbzay
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) March 5, 2026
To date in the current campaign, the team has felt the absence of Pedri for 13 matches. Similarly, Lamine Yamal has been sidelined for several fixtures due to a sports hernia. The list of those struck by muscle-related ailments also includes Robert Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, and Andreas Christensen, all of whom have suffered at various stages. The injury woes continued with Jules Kounde ruled out for a month with a hamstring issue, while his substitute, Alejandro Balde, was forced off just an hour later with the same complaint.
Players Voice Displeasure with Fitness Methods
Much of Barcelona’s prior season success had been credited to the comprehensive fitness overhaul led by Director of Football, Deco, who appointed Julio Tous to direct the conditioning programme. The changes initially garnered praise and were linked to improved player availability. However, as reported by RAC1, a growing number of squad members have lost confidence in the current methods amidst ongoing fitness challenges.
Earlier this season, several players communicated their frustrations directly to manager Hansi Flick, arguing that the prescribed exercises were not sufficiently rigorous and were undermining their performances. During a subsequent meeting, players even proposed the possibility of replacing members of the fitness staff. In response, Flick chose to de-escalate the situation and elected to monitor developments until the campaign’s conclusion.
Manager Flick Addresses Injury Crisis
Following the injuries to Kounde and Balde on Tuesday night, Flick addressed the media by stating he would “have to discuss it” with the club’s fitness team. He acknowledged that the occurrence of three hamstring injuries in a single month likely suggested an underlying issue beyond mere bad luck, implying potential structural shortcomings in the current approach.
