Hansi Flick, Barcelona manager
Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images
According to SPORT, Barcelona are close to completing one of manager Hansi Flick’s key requests by building a new gym at the club’s training facilities.
Construction of the new gym at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper has entered its final stages, and the Blaugrana hope that the players will be able to start using it once the international break comes to an end.
New gym requested by Flick
It was first reported during the summer that Barcelona wanted to provide the players with a state-of-the-art gym facilities at the training ground.
Until now, players have had access to a gym in another part of the Ciutat Esportiva, where they could carry out strength training and recovery exercises.
However, the request came from Flick and his coaching staff who believed that an upgrade was necessary, with modern facilities located much closer to the training pitches.
Hansi Flick, Barcelona manager
Flick requested for a new gym at Ciutat Esportiva. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
As such, Barcelona decided to use part of the side area alongside one of their training pitches to build the new gym.
The aim is to allow players to combine their work on the pitch with gym sessions without having to travel between different areas of the training complex, making everything easier to organise.
As per the report, the facility is almost complete. Some work remains, particularly the installation of the equipment, but Barcelona expect to make the new gym available to the first team in the coming weeks.
Benjamin Kugel the driving force
Several members of Flick’s coaching staff have personally monitored progress on the construction work in recent weeks.
One of the most closely involved has been Benjamin Kugel, the German fitness coach who joined Barcelona this past summer at the manager’s specific request.
Benjamin Kugel, new Barcelona fitness coach
Benjamin Kugel has been a key figure since arriving in the summer. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Barcelona recruited him specifically to raise the standard of the team’s physical preparation, and he has been actively involved in getting the new gym ready.
Kugel is particularly methodical when it comes to his approach and places considerable importance on even the smallest details.
As such, during his visits, he gave the club several suggestions regarding aspects of the facilities that he believed could be improved.
The current target is to open the gym after the international break, although the final timetable will depend on the remaining construction work and the arrival and installation of the equipment.
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