Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has voiced his frustration over the unavailability of key players Raphinha and Ronald Araujo for their rescheduled La Liga clash against Osasuna.
The tight scheduling following the international break has put the Catalan giants in a tough spot, forcing them to play crucial matches with a fatigued squad. With Barcelona fighting for the La Liga title, the timing couldn’t be worse.
Barcelona’s fixture list has been relentless. Over a span of just 19 days, they will play seven matches across three major competitions—La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League. Flick’s men have barely had 72 hours of rest between games, making squad rotation a necessity rather than a luxury.
Their upcoming clash with Osasuna comes just 42 hours after Raphinha completed 90 minutes for Brazil in a 4-1 World Cup qualifying defeat against Argentina. Araujo, who was an unused substitute for Uruguay against Bolivia, will also miss the match. Flick was clearly frustrated by the situation, saying, “They’re out. The flight is long, and it’s not the most optimal situation. They have to recover and train.”
The other 11 Barcelona players who participated in international matches, including Frenkie de Jong and Robert Lewandowski, will be available but far from fully recovered. Flick admitted, “It’s not the best situation for them. The players have played with their national teams, and that’s bad.”
Apart from fatigue, Barcelona is also dealing with injuries that have stretched their squad depth. Midfielder Pedri and defender Andreas Christensen have missed significant game time, while Frenkie de Jong is still regaining full fitness. These injuries, combined with the demanding schedule, have left Flick scrambling for options.
With a vital La Liga clash against Girona and a Champions League quarter-final approaching, managing the workload of key players is crucial. Flick acknowledged the challenge but remained determined, stating, “The quality of the team is good, and we can beat anyone, even if the players don’t get the optimal rest.”
Title race heats up
Despite the difficulties, Barcelona remains in the thick of the La Liga title race. A win against Osasuna would put them three points ahead of Real Madrid at the top of the table with just 10 games remaining. However, their packed schedule could prove to be a significant hurdle in their title ambitions.
The Catalan club’s next few games include crucial league encounters and a Copa del Rey semi-final, followed by a tough Champions League tie. With limited recovery time and mounting injuries, Flick will need to find the right balance between resting players and securing victories.
Flick has openly questioned the scheduling of matches, comparing it to other leagues. “There are other leagues that do it differently,” he said. “I can’t change that. That’s my personal opinion. But we’re going to play, we’re not making excuses.”
Barcelona’s resilience will be tested in the coming weeks, and how they navigate this brutal stretch of games could define their season.
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