According to a report by Barca Universal on Saturday, October 31, 2026, some Barcelona players are reportedly unhappy with Hansi Flick's strict hotel-stay policy, amid concerns that the team's demanding schedule is affecting their physical and mental freshness.

According to Xavi Hernandez Navarro of ARA, several members of the Barcelona dressing room are dissatisfied with the amount of time they spend in hotels between matches. They believe returning home to spend time with their families could help improve their recovery.

The issue has reportedly caused disagreements within the squad, with Flick keen to maintain strict control over the players' routines, while some footballers would prefer to spend more time at home.

The disagreement became noticeable after Barcelona's 5-2 victory over Real Betis at Estadio de La Cartuja.

Severe weather conditions prevented the team from flying back to Barcelona that night. Although the club's captains reportedly preferred to remain at the airport in the hope that the weather would improve, Flick eventually instructed the entire squad to spend the night at a hotel in Seville.

The players returned to Barcelona the following day before travelling to Paris two days later for their Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona subsequently suffered back-to-back defeats against PSG in the Champions League and Real Madrid in La Liga. Flick later identified a lack of freshness as one of the reasons behind his team's disappointing performances.

The German manager places great importance on recovery and has even hired sleep consultant Anna West to monitor different aspects of the players' sleeping habits.

Her responsibilities reportedly include monitoring bedroom temperatures, bedding, screen usage and other factors that could affect the quality of their sleep.

However, some Barcelona players believe that spending time with their families, having dinner at home and sleeping in their own beds would be more beneficial than staying in hotels.

This is not the first time Barcelona players have raised concerns about the club's hotel arrangements. Former captains Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernandez previously called for fewer hotel stays, arguing that some overnight trips were unnecessary.

Former managers Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique eventually accepted some of the players' requests, but Flick has maintained a stricter approach since taking charge.

The Barcelona manager is known for paying close attention to details, particularly in areas involving preparation, discipline and recovery.

Nevertheless, the latest report suggests that some players believe physical recovery is not the only important factor, as spending time with loved ones can also improve their mental freshness.

Flick now faces the challenge of balancing his preferred methods with the concerns of his players, especially with another demanding run of fixtures approaching.

Barcelona are scheduled to face Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid over the coming week, and it remains to be seen whether the German manager will reconsider his hotel policy as he seeks to improve the team's condition and results.