Headline: FC Barcelona Players Get a Day Off Before La Liga Kickoff
FC Barcelona’s manager, Hansi Flick, has given the players a break by canceling Thursday’s training session, providing a much-needed rest after their final pre-season match. The decision came after the Blaugrana secured a 2-1 victory against Egypt’s Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy at Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday.
The pause in training serves to allow players to recover as they prepare for the upcoming La Liga campaign. One of Flick’s primary goals for this season, established at the end of the previous campaign, focuses on enhancing the squad’s physical condition. The German coach aims to improve the team’s endurance and minimize muscle injuries that troubled the players last season.
Flick recruited Benjamin Kugel, a renowned German fitness coach with prior ties to him, to strengthen the coaching staff and implement a revised fitness and recovery program for the team. Kugel’s rigorous training sessions have been instrumental in pushing the players to reach optimal condition by spring, when the major trophies are contested. However, the demanding regimen has resulted in visible fatigue among some players, including Lamine Yamal.
Following the demands of the Gamper Trophy match, Flick opted to grant a day off for recovery, especially important as they gear up for their La Liga opener against Elche on Sunday. Players such as Pedri are currently on personalized preparation programs to regain complete fitness.
Identifying the need for careful management, the coaching staff has also chosen to rest other players, including Pau Cubarsi and Gavi, as they navigate the rigorous training demands set by Kugel. Training is expected to resume tomorrow, leading into the final preparations for their first match of the season at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero against Elche.
As repored by AS, FC Barcelona manager Hansi Flick cancelled Thursday’s scheduled training session, giving the players a much-needed break.
The rest day comes after the Blaugrana’s final pre-season match on Wednesday as they beat Egyptian club Al Ahly 2-1 in the Joan Gamper Trophy match at the Spotify Camp Nou.
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A necessary break
One of Flick’s main objectives for this season, set when the previous campaign ended, was to improve the squad’s physical condition.
The German’s plan had two main aims: increase the team’s endurance and reduce the muscle injuries that plagued the Barcelona dressing room last season.
That is why he brought in renowned German fitness coach Benjamin Kugel, who had already worked with him, as a new member of his coaching staff, while also revamping much of the fitness and physical recovery team.
No training today. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Kugel pushing the players
The work seen in Kugel’s training sessions so far has been extremely demanding. The objective is for the team to reach peak condition in the spring, when the major trophies are decided.
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But the price is being paid now, with the squad feeling the effects of a rigorous physical programme.
That is why, after the Gamper Trophy game against Al Ahly, Flick decided to cancel Thursday’s scheduled training session and give his players a day off, allowing them to recover before beginning their La Liga campaign on Sunday in Elche.
The fatigue from the training sessions was visible in players such as Lamine Yamal, while others, such as Pedri, have been following a specific preparation programme to return to full fitness.
Barcelona’s new fitness coach Benjamin Kugel. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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Players including Pau Cubarsi and Gavi have also been rested for individual matches as the coaching staff manages the workload imposed by the demanding programme set by new fitness coach Kugel.
As such, there was no training for the players today, with sessions expected to resume tomorrow as Barcelona kickstart final preparations for the start of their La Liga campaign.
The first match of the season will see the reigning champions travel to Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero to take on Elche.
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