Luis Enrique marks the path that Barça must also follow

If there is something that seems to be a characteristic innegociable in the teams of Luis Enrique is that they have of a remarkable physical preparation, since the Asturian is an authentic 'obseso' in this appearance. It has trusted this task with big success to Rafel Pol, the one who has been preparador physicist of the combined directed by 'Struggle': the Rome (2011-12), the Celtic of Vigo (2013-14), the FC Barcelona (2014-17), the Spanish selection (2018-2022) and, now, Paris Saint-Germain, where the physical preparation also seems to be being of first level.

The Parisian square has showed, in this stage of the season 2023-24, a remarkable state of fitness, being leaders in Tie it 1 and classified for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, where will confront to the FC Barcelona. All this has attained it keeping a rhythm of game trepidante, in spite of having added three ties and grieve two triumphs in the last five commitments contested in what it goes of campaign.

The contrast between the lesionados of the PSG and the ones of the FC Barcelona in the campaign 2023-24

The plenitud physical of the cast of Luis Enrique does not limit only to his style of game and to the rhythm imposed in him. Perhaps the most notable data is that, in this season, only seven players of the Parisian team have had to go through the infirmary: Keylor Navas, Marquinhos, Milan Skriniar, Danilo Pereira, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Kang-In Reads and Marco Asensio. Equally, Presnel Kimpembe carries of drop from the past period. This figure is insignificant if we compare it with the current situation of the Barcelona cast.

In this course 2023-24, the players of the Barça have suffered a total of 24 physical mishaps, with a high percentage of the staff, almost in his whole, having been of drop by some reason or another. Only Iñaki Crag, Fermín López, Ilkay Gündogan, Pau Cubarsí and Marc Guiu, speaking of the usual in the announcements, have not fallen 'KO' by some injury. Equally, the majority of these injuries, further to be of traumatic character like the one of Pablo Gavi (complete break of the ligament crossed previous of the right knee and an injury associated in the lateral meniscus) or the sprains of Frenkie of Jong, have been muscular, what poses the need of a wide prevention to minimise risks.

The striking case of the injuries of Ousmane Dembélé

Another case that calls the attention is the one of Ousmane Dembélé, since the French forward, in his new stage like player of Paris Saint-Germain, has been available in all the parties, except in one because of a suspension by accumulation of yellow cards, and in four meetings in which it was not summoned. It has participated in 32 duels without having had to go through the infirmary.

The previously exposed stage contrasts entirely with his stage like player of the FC Barcelona, where contested 185 clashes in six seasons, but was absent in other 116 because of injuries, the majority of them muscular. This poses the debate on if the physical preparation of the Barcelona team is really optimum as it expects of a team of first level, or if really there there is a big point to correct for relanzar to the combined Barcelona to the success.