Barcelona dressing room questions Flick’s strict hotel routine amid growing player fatigue – report

Barcelona dressing room questions Flick’s strict hotel routine amid growing player fatigue – report Barcelona suffered consecutive defeats against PSG and Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League and La Liga, bringing their perfect record to an abrupt end. After the Clasico , Hansi Flick cited a lack of freshness as one reason why his team were unable to perform at their best. However, according to Xavi Hernandez Navarro of ARA , some Barcelona players have reservations about the amount of time they spend in hotels between matches. The demanding schedule tends to keep players away from their families, and some are said to be displeased with Flick’s insistence on hotel stays. Barcelona players question Flick’s approach to recovery The disagreement became apparent following Barcelona’s 5-2 victory over Real Betis at Estadio de La Cartuja. Severe weather prevented the squad from flying home that night. While the captains preferred to wait at the airport in the hope that conditions would improve, Flick eventually ordered everyone to stay at a hotel in Seville. Barcelona captains wanted to wait at the airport at Seville. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) The players returned to Barcelona only the following day. Two days later, they had to travel to Paris to take on the defending Ligue 1 and European champions. Flick was of the opinion that the disrupted schedule affected their preparation for PSG and Real Madrid. The German manager has also employed sleep consultant Anna West, who is tasked with monitoring everything from bedroom temperatures and bedding to screen usage and sleeping habits. However, some players are said to believe that it is better to have dinner, see their children and sleep in their own beds rather than at a hotel. A familiar debate in the Barcelona dressing room The fascinating thing about this development is that this is not a new issue at Barcelona. Former captains Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernandez had previously pushed to reduce what they deemed unnecessary hotel stays. Hansi Flick needs to find a solution to balance his demands with the squad’s morale. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique eventually gave in to some of those requests. Flick, however, has maintained a stricter approach. The German manager is the kind of person who pays attention to every minute detail, and the players’ sleep schedules are part of that. However, recovery involves more than just getting the sleeping schedule right. Sometimes, players feel mentally refreshed just by being at home with their loved ones. The challenge for Flick is to find that balance without compromising on his strict standards. Barcelona face another demanding run of fixtures, with games against Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid coming up over the next week. It remains to be seen whether Flick does something different in terms of recovery in the coming weeks.