Barcelona has concluded the first phase of the season with two consecutive defeats, first against PSG in Paris and then at the Camp Nou against Real Madrid, which has generated palpable discouragement within the team. After an undefeated streak at the beginning of the season, the Barcelona fans arrived at the Clásico with the ambition of not only winning, but also dominating the rival and leaving the League practically decided in October. The losses, however, have highlighted the need to return to reality and address the problems that have arisen in the most important games.
Coach HansiFlick has been the center of attention after both games, since on both occasions he has pointed out the lack of “freshness” as one of the causes of the negative results. In the post-match press conference in Paris, Flick expressed his concern about the team's physical condition, an issue that also arose after the defeat against Real Madrid. Despite his reputation as a reserved coach, Flick has once again put the focus on physical preparation, something that he had already mentioned last season and that has generated tensions with the coaching staff in the strength zone, headed by JulioTous.
The discrepancies between Flick and the physical preparation department became evident when the German coach criticized the strength work led by Tous. This conflict led to Tous leaving the first team during the summer and being replaced by a German coach Flick trusted. The departure of Tous, who had been a key figure in the past, has left doubts over the effectiveness of the club's physical training programme.
Barcelona, which had announced that after the first international break the team would be 100% fit, now faces the reality that the lack of freshness may be affecting its performance in key matches. In addition, the team has suffered several injuries in a few games, which has increased Flick's concerns about the physical capacity of his players. With the upcoming visit to Atlético de Madrid, where the team is only two points behind, Barça will have to show greater energy and resilience to compete at the highest level.
In summary, the defeats against PSG and Real Madrid have highlighted the importance of physical preparation and the need for Barcelona to return to its usual level of performance. The club will have to address freshness issues and recover from injuries to face the rest of the season with the competitiveness expected of a team of its caliber.