Barcelona manager Hansi Flick believes that bolstering his technical staff with a new fitness coach is the essential first step toward reclaiming the UEFA Champions League title next season.
The German coach has already seen his staff trimmed following the departures of Thiago Alcántara and Stephan Nopp at the end of the current campaign, leaving a void that Flick is eager to fill with specialized expertise.
According to AS, Flick has directly petitioned the Barcelona board to recruit a top-tier fitness specialist. He reportedly identified significant physical shortcomings during the past season, a sentiment echoed by many of the first-team players.
Several squad members felt the previous physical preparation fell short of expectations, leading some to seek external trainers to maintain peak condition.
The Hierarchy Clash: Flick’s Vision vs. Laporta’s Board
Despite Flick’s insistence, the board, led by Joan Laporta, remains hesitant. The club has communicated its unwavering commitment to Julio Tous as the head of physical preparation—a position the board considers non-negotiable. While adding a new member would not change the current hierarchy, it creates a delicate diplomatic challenge for the German tactician.
Flick is expected to use the collective support of the locker room to pressure the administration. With Barcelona desperate to end a 12-year drought in Europe’s premier competition, finding a compromise in the coaching staff’s structure will be a top priority in the coming weeks.
