With 2023 now behind them, FC Barcelona enter the new year with rekindled hope. Their inconsistencies in the previous year have cost them to fall behind in La Liga, but the season is far from over. Thus, Barcelona and particularly Xavi Hernandez, hope to now do things differently.
One of the very first big decisions that Xavi has already made is his new training schedule. Since their return from the winter break, the Barcelona players have trained non-stop each day. Even then, the only doubtful day off was set to be the 1st of January, which there was no confirmation about.
However, as highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, even that date is no longer a day of rest. Xavi has scheduled an evening training session that will allow the players to celebrate New Year’s Eve but also be available for the first team training session.
Even most recently, on Sunday, the Barcelona team trained under the coach’s orders. Including both first-team players and members of the subsidiary, Xavi’s list of call-ups was a rather big one. In this final session of 2023, the Barcelona coach had 23 players in total at his disposal.
These players included Inaki Pena, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde, Joao Cancelo, Ronald Araujo, Ilkay Gundogan, Alejandro Balde, Oriol Romeu, Fermin Lopez, Sergi Roberto, Frenkie De Jong, Ferran Torres, Raphinha, Joao Felix, Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Vitor Roque.
They were also joined by several names from the subsidiary. Mikayil Faye, Mamadou Mbacke, Ander Astralaga, Pau Cubarsi, Hector Fort, and Pau Prim all trained with the Barcelona first team. The likes of Marc Guiu and Diego Kochen were not there to take part, however.
Other players who remain sidelined due to injury also did not take part. Pedri, Gavi, Marc Andre Ter Stegen, Inigo Martinez, and Marcos Alonso all remain sidelined for now as they continue their respective recoveries.
