No more fines and late night arrivals: how Flick changed Barcelona
The operating rules imposed by the German coach at Barcelona have been revealed, with results in sight. Weight control is carried out every day and breakfast is mandatory at the Sports City
MADRID – One of the secrets to Barcelona’s current success has been the discipline imposed by Hansi Flick. With the arrival of the German coach, certain habits that had been in place since Xavi’s time have changed, with positive results, as the Catalan team is currently leading the La Liga standings .
According to the newspaper As , there were several changes implemented by the former Bayern and Germany coach that brought the group closer together, while also creating a greater sense of responsibility among the players.
For example, fines for being late for training have been abolished. Flick is an advocate of holding players accountable, although he reserves special measures in case of non-compliance. All players know that they must be at the Joan Gamper Sports City an hour and a half before the start of each training session and that is where they must have breakfast, supervised by the team of nutritionists.
In addition, each player has to undergo a daily weigh-in, something that was recommended but not mandatory in Xavi’s time. The last coach to impose the use of scales as a rule was Luis Enrique.
Post-session work is also part of the day-to-day, with each player spending an average of five hours from the moment they arrive until the time they leave.
There have also been changes in the preparation of matches. After complaints from the players, Xavi eliminated the morning activation training sessions on the mornings of each match, but Hansi Flick has restored the rule. When the team plays in Barcelona, the team immediately gathers at the hotel at noon.
There have also been changes regarding the post-match routine. The German coach has done away with early morning returns: whenever there are matches that start after 9pm and involve a return journey of more than an hour and a half, the team is ordered to spend the night in the city where they played. Flick believes that post-match rest is essential, which is not compatible with arriving at three in the morning with an exhausted body and still without sleep.
FEW BREAKS
The iron hand is also evident in the few days off given to the squad. Flick is an advocate of the idea that every day without training is a day lost, so he only lets his guard down during international breaks, as is the case at present. As a rule, only one day off is given per week, especially because the succession of games prevents longer rest periods.
From the point of view of clinical and physiological care, the inclusion of dental examinations at the start of pre-season and the use of a GPS display on the wrist in all training sessions were also new.
As for the social side, Hansi Flick makes a point of keeping his distance: his office is always open, but he does not foster friendly relations with the players. It is all very much based on a professional relationship, where everyone has to know what to do and where to be.
