Barcelona Squad Demands Overhaul of Fitness Department as Muscle Injuries Threaten Hansi Flick’s Title Charge

FC Barcelona stars challenge Hansi Flick over training methods as a wave of hamstring injuries sidelines Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 8:45 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Football Espana

Internal Friction Over Rising Injury Toll

The atmosphere within the FC Barcelona dressing room has reportedly soured as a significant portion of the first-team squad questions the effectiveness of the club’s current fitness protocols. Following a season defined by peak physical conditioning, the 2025/2026 campaign has seen a stark reversal in fortune, with several high-profile players sidelined by soft tissue ailments. Tensions reached a peak this week after Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde both suffered hamstring injuries within an hour of each other during Tuesday's fixture, prompting immediate concerns about the structural integrity of the department overseen by Julio Tous.

A Direct Challenge to Technical Leadership

Director of Football Deco had originally appointed Julio Tous to modernize the club’s training regimen, a move that was initially credited with stabilizing the fitness of injury-prone players like Pedri Gonzalez. However, reports from RAC1 suggest that the players have now communicated their formal frustration directly to manager Hansi Flick. Early in the season, members of the squad reportedly warned that the specific exercises prescribed by the fitness staff were insufficient, leading to a perceived drop in on-field performance and a heightened vulnerability to muscular fatigue.

The Breaking Point for Key Personnel

The list of casualties has become a significant hurdle for Flick’s tactical plans, with Pedri already missing 13 matches and Lamine Yamal battling a sports hernia. Muscle problems have also hindered the availability of Robert Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, and Andreas Christensen at various intervals this year. The latest blow to the defensive line involves Kounde, who is expected to be unavailable for at least a month, leaving the coaching staff with limited options as they navigate the business end of the domestic and European schedules.