According to a report by Barca Universal on Friday, October 30, 2026, ARA journalist Xavi Hernandez Navarro revealed that some members of the squad would rather return to their homes between matches instead of remaining in hotels. However, Flick considers the arrangements an important part of his recovery strategy and continues to insist on maintaining his preferred routines.

The disagreement has attracted attention following Barcelona's back-to-back defeats against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Real Madrid in La Liga. After losing the Clasico, Flick acknowledged that his players were not sufficiently fresh to deliver their best performances.

The situation reportedly became more noticeable after Barcelona's 5-2 victory over Real Betis at Estadio de La Cartuja. Bad weather prevented the team from returning home by air that evening. While the captains reportedly preferred remaining at the airport until conditions improved, Flick decided that the entire squad should spend the night at a hotel in Seville.

Barcelona eventually returned the following day before travelling to Paris two days later. Flick reportedly believes the disruption affected the team's preparation for its subsequent fixtures.

The German coach has also brought in sleep consultant Anna West to oversee different aspects of the players' recovery. Her responsibilities include monitoring bedroom temperatures, bedding conditions, screen exposure and individual sleeping patterns.

Nevertheless, some footballers reportedly feel that spending evenings with their families, enjoying dinner at home and sleeping in their own beds would help them feel mentally refreshed before important matches.

Disagreements over hotel stays have occurred at Barcelona in previous years. Former captains Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernandez reportedly questioned unnecessary overnight arrangements, while previous managers Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique eventually made adjustments to accommodate certain player requests.

Flick now faces the challenge of balancing his professional standards with the preferences of his squad. With Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid approaching, the debate over travel and recovery arrangements could become increasingly important as Barcelona seek to improve their performances.