Xavi’s former team debunks negative narrative on Barcelona’s physical training during his tenure – report

There has been a lot of discussion about the differences in physical training at FC Barcelona between the current season under Hansi Flick and the previous era under Xavi Hernandez.

Several like Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Pedri have commented on the matter, with many agreeing that the German coach is placing greater emphasis on physical conditioning.

The strong start to Barcelona’s season, with four consecutive league wins, has highlighted the team’s physical prowess, both with and without the ball.

The general sentiment is that this season’s physical work surpasses that of prior seasons. However, this claim is largely based on subjective interpretations from players still at the club.

As already reported, this narrative has not sat well with Xavi’s entourage as well as his former technical team. Now, SPORT reports that this has prompted them to revisit the data from his tenure to set the record straight.

Xavi’s defence through data

Indeed, as per the report, members of Xavi’s coaching staff have delved into the metrics and statistics from the two-and-a-half seasons he spent in charge, relying on data from ‘Media Coach,’ a tool used by all La Liga teams.

These figures show that during the season in which Barcelona won the league, the team consistently ranked in the top three for distance covered and high-speed distance covered.

The following season maintained similar levels, and in many categories, Barcelona’s numbers exceeded those of the eventual champions, Real Madrid.

According to Xavi’s team, “the physical data from Xavi’s tenure is the best the club has seen in the last eleven seasons.”

Their analysis goes further, examining how many points were earned based on the timing of goals. The results are striking: Barcelona earned 15 points in the first 30 minutes of games, 16 points in the next 30 minutes, and a whopping 54 points in the final 30 minutes.

This significant difference, especially in the last 15 minutes, stems from the large margin between goals scored and conceded. Breaking the match down into 15-minute segments, the numbers are: 9-6, 7-5, 10-9, 12-7, 17-8, and 24-9.

In other words, as the game progressed, Barcelona scored more goals, which strikes against the narrative that Xavi’s teams faded with time during matches.

The current season under Flick

Hansi Flick’s Barcelona has started the season in blistering form with four wins from four matches, a performance that has been linked to the team’s physical conditioning.

However, according to Xavi’s technical team, these early results may have more to do with tactical and football-related factors than just fitness.

For instance, Flick has put his faith in younger players like Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Casado, Alejandro Balde, and Marc Bernal, which could be driving the team’s current success.

Ultimately, while the physical demands under Flick may seem higher, the data suggests that Xavi’s team was not physically underprepared, as recent narratives suggest.