​Barcelona’s rebuild is extending beyond the pitch as the club continues to revamp its internal structure under Hansi Flick, preparing for another demanding season. In addition to shaping the squad on the field, Barcelona is undertaking a substantial reorganization behind the scenes, with a particular focus on the fitness department. Recent reports from AS indicate that the club has overhauled its first-team fitness staff, following the earlier departure of Julio Tous. This wave of changes forms a core part of Flick’s broader strategy to optimize performance and player recovery after a season marked by injuries and lengthy rehabilitation periods.
The latest Barcelona updates confirm that physical trainers Rafa Maldonado and German Fernández will not remain part of the first-team setup. While Maldonado’s long-term role remains uncertain, Fernández is expected to continue contributing to Barça Atlètic, ensuring continuity within the club’s broader ecosystem. These exits come on the heels of Julio Tous’s departure from his role as head of fitness, and together they signal one of the most significant revamps of Barcelona’s backroom staff in recent years. The implications of these changes place the onus on a new leadership structure for the department as the club looks to safeguard player health and optimize recovery timelines moving forward.
With Tous leaving the club, responsibility for steering the fitness department now rests with Benjamin Kugel, who has been appointed as the new head of the first team’s physical performance unit. Kugel will work in tandem with a core team that remains integral to Flick’s coaching framework, including Pepe Conde, Milos Mallol, and Andres Martin, all of whom continue to be part of the management team around the first team. The changes are depicted as a gradual realignment rather than a sudden overhaul, reflecting Flick’s long-term plan to streamline operations and strengthen the support system available to players.
The timing of these changes underscores their strategic nature. Flick has not shied away from adjusting backroom staff since taking charge, a process that intensified after a comparatively successful first season. Tous had been entrusted with broader responsibilities, including overseeing the recovery and rehabilitation of injured players. However, a string of fitness-related challenges throughout the season prompted Flick to rethink that arrangement. As confidence in the department waned, the head of fitness saw responsibilities redistributed, signaling a widening gap between the coaching staff and the fitness leadership.
Public disclosures about the evolving relationship between Flick and Tous have highlighted tensions that contributed to the broader shake-up. Reports suggest that as the season progressed, Flick’s frustrations with the department’s performance grew, culminating in a visible distancing between the coach and the head of fitness. This erosion of trust is cited as a central factor driving the comprehensive restructuring currently underway at Barcelona, aligning leadership roles with Flick’s vision for a more cohesive and resilient support system for the squad.
Moving forward, the new leadership framework places Kugel at the helm of the first team’s physical performance efforts, supported by a familiar roster of practitioners who will continue to operate within Flick’s tactical program. The goal of this reorganization is clear: to minimize injuries, accelerate rehabilitation, and maintain peak physical condition across the squad throughout a demanding campaign. As Barcelona strives to reconcile on-pitch performance with robust off-pitch support, the fitness department’s evolution will likely influence broader performance metrics across the club.
In summary, Barcelona’s ongoing rebuild represents a holistic approach to team-building, one that integrates tactical preparation with a strengthened and more strategically aligned fitness operation. Flick’s willingness to reallocate responsibilities and to revise the department’s leadership signals a decisive step toward greater consistency, improved recovery protocols, and a more seamless collaboration between coaching staff and medical and fitness personnel. For the club, this restructuring is about more than personnel changes—it is about embedding a renewed philosophy that prioritizes durability, resilience, and sustained performance, both for the current squad and for the academy and reserve teams that feed into the first team. As the season approaches, all eyes will be on how these changes translate into on-field results, reduced injury rates, and a smoother path to peak performance for Barcelona.