New Barcelona coach Xavi has reportedly sacked two members of the club’s physio department in one of his first decisions less than 24-hours after becoming the new boss.
The legendary midfielder was finally appointed as Barcelona’s new boss at the weekend before being officially unveiled to 10,000 supporters at the Nou Camp on Monday.
The decision to sack the club’s physio follows the ongoing injury crisis causing rifts between players and staff behind the scenes, while the team lags well behind their title rivals in LaLiga.
It was gathered that players are getting fed up with the alarming amount of injuries and are beginning to point the blame for the growing list of injuries on the club’s fitness coaches, believing their problems began in pre-season and have continued since.
Since his appointment, Xavi has got wind of these heated arguments and has decided to take action, telling physio Juanjo Brau and physical trainer Albert Roca, who arrived with Ronald Koeman, that they are no longer needed at the club, according to AS.
The report goes on to claim that Xavi will bring Jaume Munill and Ricard Pruna back to the club to help solve the club’s ongoing injury crisis, given how the pair have previously worked at the Nou Camp.
Xavi has already discussed the issue with sporting director Mateu Alemany and has even talked about making personnel changes in the physio department in an attempt to get the club back on track.
The most common problem afflicting the squad right now is muscle injuries, which have sidelined Pedri, Ousmane Dembele, Sergi Roberto, Nico Gonzalez, Gerard Pique, Eric Garcia, and Ansu Fati.
Fati, Garcia, and Nico were all forced off during the 3-3 draw away to Celta Vigo, where the Catalans let a three-goal lead at half-time slip.
Stand-in goalkeeper Neto is ill with the flu while Sergio Aguero has been ruled out for three months with a heart problem after struggling to breathe in his last match against Alaves.
Danish striker Martin Braithwaite is recovering from a knee operation while the US right back Sergino Dest is suffering from lower back pain.
