This season has been full of action and complications for FC Barcelona throughout the campaign so far. With a packed schedule of fixtures and other emerging issues, it has been a lot to deal with. Still, through both resilience and perhaps even fortune, Barcelona have remained strong.
Currently the leaders in La Liga and already among the final eight teams in the UEFA Champions League, Hansi Flick’s side is doing well. However, that does not mean that the current situation for the club in terms of their game schedule is justified or something that the club is happy with.
For instance, the team now has to play a game against CA Osasuna in La Liga on a very awkward date. In fact, Hansi Flick has even confirmed that he will not be able to count on several key players for this game due to the inconvenient timing and date of the game.
Moreover, as highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, Hansi Flick has openly spoken about this issue and feels that it is not justified to have the players participate in this game as it is currently being done:
“The players have been with their national teams, but we have to play this match. We cannot talk about what they did with their national teams, we can talk about Osasuna, if this is the right moment to play this match. It is not.”
Moreover, staying on the topic of his issues against this current scheduling of La Liga fixtures, he provided another example of a concern that he has in regards to away games as well:
“I can also talk about the match against Leganés, which is at 9:00 PM. Whenever we play away at that time, we arrive in the early morning, and the players cannot recover. I’m not happy with that, especially when you see how it’s handled in other leagues.”
Going further, Flick also clarified that this issue transcends beyond just the top sides in La Liga as well:
“It’s not about Barça and Madrid; it’s about protecting the teams in the league. It’s about protecting the teams. I can’t change it, it’s just my opinion, but we also have to guarantee the players’ rest.”
As for his initial reaction to the new date of the Osasuna game, the Barcelona coach remained firm in his belief that the team is focused on the result first and foremost no matter the inconvenience:
“If we win and take the three points, that will be our reaction.”
Ultimately, Flick decided to suggest that this is a problem that the likes of FIFA or UEFA should definitely look at:
“Maybe this is a situation that UEFA or FIFA should fix, to protect the players’ rest.”
For now, the focus turns towards the upcoming La Liga game. Still at the top of the league table, this is Barça’s game in hand and Flick’s side must do whatever they can to ensure that they make the most of it and get all three points.