Dani Olmo and Araujo, in Barça's sights: physical plan against injuries

If there is one aspect that has been given special attention since the arrival of Hansi Flick to FC Barcelona, it is the physical work and recovery of the players. The German coach, accustomed to his teams being intense, with rhythm and constant pressure, has begun to implement a demanding methodology in these areas.

In this process, the role of the coaching staff is key. Among them, Julio Tous stands out, head of physical preparation for the first team, who supervises various aspects that directly influence performance and injury prevention. Among the elements that are most taken care of in the new stage are:

1. Nutrition and recovery
2. Weight controls and medical check-ups
3. Sleep monitoring
4. Adequate and personalized rest

All of this with the aim of optimizing resistance, increasing muscle mass, reducing accumulated fatigue and decreasing the risk of injuries.

The 'Pedri case': example of physical success with Flick

One of the most emblematic cases of this new approach is that of Pedri González. The Canary midfielder, who in previous seasons missed a large number of matches due to injury, did not suffer a single physical mishap in the 2024/25 season.

Thanks to the specific work, the '8' managed to play 59 of the 60 possible matches with FC Barcelona, adding 4,646 minutes, the second player in the squad with the most time on the field, only behind Raphinha (4,661').

• THE FACT:¿What was done with Pedri? An exhaustive muscular analysis was performed to know in detail the composition of his muscle fibers. Based on this, a personalized routine was designed focused on preventing injuries and optimizing his performance.

Dani Olmo and Ronald Araujo: the next in Flick's physical plan

The success of the method applied with Pedri González has led the Barça coaching staff to consider carrying out similar work with other players prone to injuries. This was commented by Deco in a recent interview for Globoesporte, in which he assured that both Dani Olmo and Ronald Araujo are in sight to follow a specialized physical planning for the 2025/26 season.

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Dani Olmo's alarming injury history that FC Barcelona should take into account

The '20' of the Blaugrana team is a player who has dealt with multiple physical problems since before his arrival at Barça. In the 2024/25 season, Dani Olmo suffered three major injuries:

1. Myofascial injury in the adductor of the right leg (five matches out)
2. Overload in the soleus of the right leg (four matches out)
3. Injury to the biceps femoris of the right leg (six matches out)

In total, he missed 15 official matches. Even so, he managed to play 39 matches, scoring 12 goals and providing seven assists in 1,934 minutes. However, the physical irregularity prevented him from reaching his best version, something that is intended to be corrected through personalized routines, recovery sessions, rest and controlled diet.

Araujo, another priority to recover his best physical level

The case of Ronald Araujo also generates concern. The Uruguayan defender, known for his physical power and defensive reliability, could only play 25 official matches this season, with a total of 1,560 minutes. An injury to the hamstring tendon of the right thigh that left him out of a large part of the season (21 matches), directly affecting his competitive rhythm.

Now, with the new coaching staff, the Riviera native will undergo a plan similar to that of Pedri, with the intention of recovering his maximum level and becoming one of the best defenders in the world again when he is in full condition.