Injury prevention plan failed, Aspen: A large number of injuries this season have made Barcelona re-examine the training plan

Spanish media "AS" reported that the club's large number of injuries this season has prompted Barcelona to re-examine the team's training plan.

Western media pointed out that the flood of injuries at the beginning of the new season has put Barcelona’s injury prevention methodology at the center of the storm. Exactly a year ago, specifically on October 11, 2024, Barcelona's new fitness director Julio Tos publicly promised to reduce the number of injuries in the first team by 50%. "The only solution is to work systematically and continue to convince players that they must prevent injuries every day," Toss declared at the time. "Although injuries cannot be eradicated, practice has proven that preventive training can significantly reduce the incidence rate. I am referring to the 50% number."

However, one year after this statement, the Barcelona medical room is close to "overloaded." With the latest confirmation of Lewandowski's injury, there are currently 8 players on the exemption card, including Lewandowski, Olmo, Garvey, Yamal, Fermin, Rafinha, Joan Garcia and Ter Stegen, equivalent to more than 30% of the team's lineup.

This is an unbearable situation for any coach, especially considering that the season has only started for two months. The locker room is desperate for solutions. The prevention system that worked so well last year is now riddled with holes. What confuses club professionals the most is: Why did the mechanism that worked so accurately last year now completely fail?

The explanations of intensive events and workload are equally unconvincing: the number of matches was similar at the same time last year, but the injury situation was much better than it is now. Everyone had expected further improvement this season, especially since the team had a full month of rest this summer and participated in full pre-season preparations. However, reality quickly shattered expectations.

The crisis began at the end of July when Ter Stegen underwent surgery for a lumbar spine problem, followed by Lewandowski's hamstring injury and Garvey's right knee discomfort, which ultimately led to meniscal arthroscopic surgery. Valde became the next casualty to fall, also suffering from a hamstring injury, followed closely by De Jong due to a muscle problem in his right leg. Afterwards, Yamal suffered from inflammation of the pubic bone. He took an analgesic injection in the national team to play in Turkey to aggravate the injury. Joan Garcia meniscus surgery, Fermin injured the psoas major, Rafinha strained the hamstring, Olmo injured the soleus, and Lewandowski also tore the biceps femoris.

These injuries have become the irony of Toews's promise. A year ago, he was still showing off the results of injury prevention. The only one who has survived now is Pedri, although he has also shown fatigue in recent games.

Coach Flick has made no secret of his concerns about the wave of injuries, which forces him to constantly adjust his lineup rotation strategy. While he trusts the professionalism of the medical team, he has demanded immediate action to reverse the situation.

When facing Girona, Fermin and Yamal will return, which can slightly alleviate the shortage of personnel. Ferran Torres has returned from the national team with muscle fatigue, but it will not hinder his performance. What is even more worrying is that Rafinha will miss the two games between Girona and Olympiakos, while Olmo and Lewandowski are determined to miss the El Clasico.

Faced with such a predicament, Flick must deal with a devilish schedule of 6 games in the next 23 days. The team just lost the top spot in the league and was suppressed by Paris in the Champions League. This undoubtedly makes it difficult to be optimistic, which may be why he chose to go to Formentera for a short rest.