Laporta has found out that the team trains approximately four hours less every week than other European top clubs. He's very upset about this, and has now created the position of a Director of High Performance, who should solve this. [cope]I mean the physical fitness and the willingness to play with high intensity the whole match. This is achieved only by training. They look exhausted at the end. Playing with Levante also influenced the strength.
I often joke about soft, weak Barca DNA players, but what does Laporta expect?
It is well known that since Cruijff in 90s, we were building teams around smart, technical players who don't rely on physique but on brains, understanding of tactics, good first touch, good passing, rondos and good/smart off the ball movement.
And thus, we never relied too much on physical preparation but on tactics and technique.
Half of our Barca DNA players are either short like 13 years old girls or they have body and muscles like those 13 years old girls.
That's our famous Barca DNA.
And now Laporta acts as if he is surprised.
I mean, the FATHER of our football, Pep himself, wasn't much stronger than fkng Riki Puig.
Look at those muscles and scrawny legs:
So, at La Masia:
1. local guys usually have weaker physique than African players or Northern Europeans
2. we don't train physical skills at La Masia, but mostly "total football", technique, rondos and how to be a good guy who doesn't swear (seriously, I watched a documentary about La Masia, coaches were proud how they are teaching boys life lessons about being good boys)
So, you can improve physique to some extent, but if you are naturally of Riki's or Busi's physique and you haven't run too much or went to gym your whole career, you won't suddenly fix it with a new coach.
I am not saying that we shouldn't train harder.
But for 30 years, Barca DNA is in our blood, in a way how we play or train.
And now, without Xavi, Messi, Iniesta and since a football world evolved, our way is not good anymore and now Laporta is shocked.
Oh well, it's better now than never, but it is laughable.