It is no secret that Hansi Flick has worked his magic with Barcelona this season and his ability to make such a stark impact in less than a year is a testament to his greatness as a football tactician.
One aspect that he has drastically improved Barcelona in, particularly, is the fitness of players as the dressing room now appears less injury-prone and more prepared to put in long shifts on the field.
Carrying out genetic analyses of players’ muscular frame and vulnerability to injuries, especially with the likes of Pedri and Dani Olmo, has worked wonders and SPORT bring to light a similar process underway with Ronald Araujo.
A special plan
As a player who is gifted with a large frame and physical presence, Araujo is unexpectedly fast on his feet and boasts tremendous acceleration potential.
The combination, however, has left him prone to muscular injuries in the past and Flick and Co. aim to reduce that in the coming months.
Araujo has been put on a special training plan. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
Araujo only returned from his long-term injury earlier this year and has not found it easy to return to the regular starting dynamics.
However, the manager has already conducted the aforementioned genetic study on Araujo and the player immediately appointed a personal team including a physiotherapist and a physical trainer.
Araujo thus works a good chunk of his daily training regimen outside the Ciutat Esportiva to focus on body strengthening and injury prevention aspects and is being monitored by Julio Tous and Raul Martinez.
The result is already visible when he is on the field as he looks more comfortable than ever before to push himself to the limit. Barcelona’s recent win over Benfica and the shift he put in at Lisbon, needless to say, exemplifies the same.