Following Barcelona’s painful loss in Seville, head coach Hansi Flick wasted no time in taking action. According to journalist Javi Miguel on Barça Reservat (Catalunya Ràdio), Flick called a special meeting with the club’s fitness staff on Monday to address growing worries about the team’s physical condition.
The data from recent matches has alarmed the German coach. Reports suggest that the players are not reaching the expected performance levels for this stage of the season. One example mentioned is Pedri, who has not been hitting the same intensity benchmarks he showed last year. Injuries have certainly played a role, but Flick’s main concern lies in the physical deficits that are now clearly visible across the squad.
Physical Levels Below Expectations
Flick believes the current metrics are noticeably lower than last season’s and wants to understand the reasons behind the drop. The coaching staff have already begun studying the data to identify and correct these issues.
Training workloads have been lighter than originally planned because the players have shown higher-than-expected fatigue levels. This has made it difficult to raise the intensity. The long-term goal remains clear: reach peak physical form by March, when decisive fixtures in La Liga and the Champions League arrive. However, if workloads cannot increase, that objective will be at serious risk.
Diagnosing the Problem: Fatigue and Lack of Rotation
Several factors have contributed to this situation. The team recently endured a stretch of seven matches in just 21 days, a demanding schedule that exposed the lack of rotation options. Ongoing injuries have forced Flick to rely on secondary plans rather than his preferred lineups.
After the heavy defeat in Sevilla, his first step was to gather the fitness coaches, led by Julio Tous, to review the data and discuss solutions. In Pedri’s case, his physical numbers are not what they were a year ago, even though his natural talent continues to shine through.
“Shit November” Arriving Early
According to internal reports, the team’s current physical state corresponds to what would normally be expected at the end of November, not in early October. Last season, Flick jokingly referred to that dip as “Shit November,” a month when form typically declines before recovering later in the campaign. This year, however, that low point appears to have arrived ahead of schedule.
The staff are searching for explanations and, more importantly, practical solutions to reverse the trend. Flick knows that fitness is the foundation of his high-intensity philosophy, and if Barcelona cannot recover their physical edge soon, the tactical ideas will not translate onto the pitch.
A Crucial Test of Leadership
The upcoming weeks will test Flick’s management and adaptability. Balancing recovery, workload, and confidence will be essential. The international break offers a brief opportunity to reset physically and mentally, but the margin for error is shrinking fast.
For Barcelona to return to their best, Flick must rediscover the balance between freshness and competitiveness that defined his early success at the club.
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