The FTBL Index πŸŽ™ ⚽
The FTBL Index πŸŽ™ ⚽

@TheFTBLIndex

8 tweets 5 reads Oct 01, 2023
Ever wondered how Xavi decides who to rest and who not to?
Cancelo considered for rest vs. Sevilla, but club uses fatigue monitoring tool to assess injury risk. Data indicated his fatigue levels weren't significant.
Barcelona’s demanding schedule poses challenges. Key players doubling for their national teams, playing twice a weak in domestic and CL, compound injury and fatigue risks. Xavi must make vital rest decisions with the aid of modern sports science.
Gone are the days of simply asking players if they're "good to go." Advanced systems enable the coaching staff to assess players' fatigue effectively.
Fatigue is now categorized into central nervous system, muscle, and psychological fatigue, each requiring distinct assessment and treatment.
Tools for assessing fatigue include self-reports, heart rate monitoring, neuromuscular response tests, joint range of motion assessments, and biochemical/hormonal/immunological changes, although some are more practical for in-season use than others.
The coaching staff considers various factors when deciding who to rest and who to play, such as the match's importance, players' qualities, positions, and status, training patterns, periodization plans, opponent qualities, and upcoming matches.
Balancing these factors helps Xavi and his staff make critical decisions while supported by data, ensuring the best possible approach to player management.
So in this case, what coaches look at is, is a 15% fatigued Cancelo better than his potential well-rested replacement, which happens to be Sergi Roberto? They’ve determined that Cancelo is good to go.

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