Catalan club are overhauling their first-team fitness department after severe problems last term
Barcelona faced a lot of injury problems last season. For most of the campaign in fact, the squad suffered the most hamstring injuries in Europe.
Hansi Flick’s side ended up retaining the Liga title and lifting the Supercopa de Espana, both for the second time in two years under Flick, but there is an understanding that if more success is to come, then they have to deal with the recurring injuries.
Several players in the first team, including Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Frenkie de Jong and Pedri, all suffered injuries and were ruled out of important games. Raphinha suffered repeated setbacks with a hamstring problem and missed a good part of the first half of the season.
To tackle the problem, Barcelona are overhauling their first-team fitness department this summer.
The club confirmed the appointment of German fitness coach Benjamin Kugel this week. His responsibilities were not publicly stated but he is expected to become head of the fitness coaching team, assuming the position previously held by Julio Tous.
Kugel has a long relationship with Flick. The pair worked together in the coaching group of the Germany team that won the 2014 World Cup. Joachim Low was manager at the time and Flick was the assistant, while Kugel worked in fitness. His coaching career has also included spells with Werder Bremen, Koln, PSV Eindhoven and Benfica.
Flick has a hand in Barcelona’s decision to reshuffle their fitness department. The head coach is understood to have raised concerns about their level while discussing the contract extension he signed in May, committing him to the club until 2028.
Senior figures felt that fixing the problems required more than just personnel change but they ultimately agreed to Flick’s preferred direction and appointed his favoured candidate.
Tous, who had served as head of the fitness coaching staff for two years, will now work with the club’s reserve and academy sides.
