Flick Confronts Staff Exits and Fitness Failures at Barcelona

The departures and unrest over conditioning have forced the coach to seek new backroom recruits to stabilise player preparation before next season.

Overview

Match analyst Dr. Stephan Nopp has told the club he will leave this summer, and at least one outlet reports that coach Thiago Alcántara has informed players he will depart at the end of the season.
Hansi Flick is actively pursuing an additional fitness coach to restore players to peak condition after a campaign marked by repeated injuries.
Barcelona overhauled its fitness and physio setup in 2024 by hiring Julio Tous and Raul Martinez, and the club advisor later gave Tous full control of fitness decisions.
Players including Raphinha, Pedri, Joan García, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Lamine Yamal suffered fitness problems this season, which prompted squad complaints about the current conditioning methods.
The changes remove experienced technical staff and increase the likelihood that Flick will reshape both his backroom team and parts of the playing squad ahead of next season, with possible recruits from Flick’s contacts in Germany being explored.