While much of Hansi Flick’s first-team squad is still locked in World Cup battles across North America, the German coach is leaving nothing to chance back in Catalonia. With the official start of pre-season training looming on July 13 at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Flick and his fitness staff have already dispatched personalised physical programmes to players—a “mini pre-season” designed to be completed in the 10 to 15 days before they step back onto the grass.
The message is clear: even on holiday, there are no days off.
A Plan Forged in the Gym, Executed from the Beach
According to SPORT, Barcelona’s fitness coaches have drawn up individualised training schedules tailored to each player’s physical profile. The objective is threefold: reactivate dormant muscles, improve cardiovascular conditioning, and strengthen the areas of the body most vulnerable to the demands of elite football—particularly the lower limbs.
The rationale is simple. Flick’s pre-season is expected to be brutally demanding, with double sessions scheduled from the very first week. Players who arrive unprepared risk not only falling behind tactically but also succumbing to injury—a scenario Barcelona are desperate to avoid.
Learning from Diarra’s Hamstring Nightmare
Last summer’s pre-season serves as a stark cautionary tale. Ibrahim Diarra, the promising Malian winger, suffered a serious hamstring injury just days after training began—a setback that derailed his integration into the first-team setup. Flick and his staff are determined not to repeat that mistake.
This time, the groundwork is being laid weeks in advance. Players have been sent detailed gym routines, cardiovascular programmes, and strength exercises to build a solid physical base before the first whistle of double-session training. The goal is to ensure that when the squad reconvenes, they can cope with the heavy workload from the outset—rather than playing catch-up.
Youngsters Lead the Way, Seniors Follow Suit
With as many as 16 Barcelona players currently on World Cup duty, the opening phase of pre-season will be heavily populated by academy talents. Several of these youngsters are already putting Flick’s plan into action.
Tommy Marqués has been spotted training at a specialist centre in the Algarve, while Álvaro Cortés has been combining family holidays in Andalusia with gym sessions. Orian Goren, Guille Fernández, Toni Fernández, and Álex González—the latter a recent signing from Damm—are all following their personalised routines.
They will be joined from day one by senior players not involved in the World Cup, including Alejandro Balde, Gerard Martín, and veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny. The list of academy call-ups continues to grow, with Ebrima Tunkara, Óscar Gistau, and Xavi Espart—currently competing at the Under-17 European Championship—also expected to report.
What Lies Ahead: England, Birmingham, and Beyond
The July 13 return will begin with the traditional medical check-ups and fitness assessments. From there, the intensity will ramp up quickly. After an initial period of training in Barcelona, the squad will travel to England for a week-long camp at St George’s Park—the state-of-the-art facility regularly used by the English national team—from July 27 to August 3.
The first pre-season friendly has already been confirmed: Barcelona will face Birmingham City at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park on July 31. Additional behind-closed-doors matches are also expected to be scheduled.
For the youngsters hoping to catch Flick’s eye, this “mini pre-season” could prove as important as the official one. For the senior players still competing in the World Cup, the homework awaits—whether in a hotel gym in Houston or a training centre in Doha.
Either way, when July 13 arrives, Hansi Flick expects his players to be ready. Not almost ready. Not getting there. Ready.
