Hansi Flick is not only focused on the transfer market to improve FC Barcelona. According to reports from AS, the German coach has requested the incorporation of a new fitness coach ahead of next season, a demand that comes after a campaign with more physical problems than expected and an internal feeling that the team needs to take a step forward in that area.
The request also arrives during a period of changes inside the coaching staff itself. AS explains that Thiago Alcântara and Stephan Nopp will leave important gaps around the German coach, while Mundo Deportivo had already advanced that Nopp will not continue at the club for personal reasons.
Flick wants more control and prevention
Flick’s idea is not about making a cosmetic adjustment or adding a secondary figure. What he wants is to strengthen an area he considers extremely sensitive if the team wants to compete better throughout the entire season. AS claims the coach believes it is necessary to improve prevention, workload management and the squad’s overall physical response if Barça want to take a real step forward in Europe.
That does not mean, at least for now, a complete break with the current structure. The same report explains that the club still trust Julio Tous as the main head of the physical department and that Flick’s request is being studied as an additional reinforcement rather than a direct replacement.
Injuries have triggered concern inside the club
The coach’s biggest argument is what happened throughout the season. AS states that Barça have suffered more injuries than during the final campaign under Xavi Hernández, a detail that has strengthened the internal diagnosis that intervention is needed. The report also mentions growing concern about relapses, workload planning and accumulated fatigue during several moments of the year.
At the same time, it has also emerged that some players have looked for external support to feel better prepared, a sign that the physical side is not viewed as a minor issue inside the dressing room. For Flick, if the team wants to seriously compete for the UEFA Champions League, it must become more reliable, more resistant and much more consistent physically.
Staff exits accelerate the demand
The departure of Stephan Nopp, one of the German coach’s trusted analysts, already forces Barça to reorganise part of the coaching structure. That comes alongside the exit of Thiago Alcântara, who according to several reports will also not continue in Flick’s staff. That double movement leaves the coach with fewer close allies internally and better explains why he is now demanding more resources before next season begins.
The conclusion at Camp Nou is becoming increasingly clear. Flick is not asking for a blockbuster signing or a revolution of names, but rather a strategic addition to reinforce an area he considers decisive. And that is the major twist of Barça’s summer: before demanding a player, his first major request is to improve the team’s physical preparation structure.
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