Barcelona vent anger over packed schedule as Dani Olmo injured

BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona coach Hansi Flick mentioned his workforce paid a “high price” for beating Osasuna 3-0 after dropping Dani Olmo to damage in a recreation they had been pressured to play on Thursday.

The match was postponed earlier this month after the dying of Barça’s first workforce physician, Carles Miñarro, and rearranged for this week on the again of the worldwide break, regardless of protests from each groups.

Barça eased to victory with targets from Ferran Torres, Olmo and Robert Lewandowski to maneuver three factors clear on the high of LaLiga, however the win was tainted by Olmo’s damage.

Sources instructed ESPN Olmo will bear assessments on an adductor drawback on Friday, with preliminary estimates that he will likely be out for 2 to a few weeks.

“Today we made the best of the situation we have,” Flick mentioned within the post-game information convention.

“It’s not the right date for playing this match. After the international break, it was not good. We have three points more, but we paid a really high price for the injury of Dani, it’s not good.

“We do not know the way lengthy he will likely be out. If it is two weeks it means lots of matches. Or three weeks extra matches. It is not a superb scenario. The worth was very excessive for the three factors.”

Barça needed to play the sport with out Raphinha, who was unavailable for choice after taking part in for Brazil towards Argentina on Tuesday.

Ronald Araújo, in the meantime, was an unused substitute after coming back from Uruguay obligation late on Wednesday.

It was the first of seven games Barça will play in 20 days, with Sunday’s league game against Girona kicking off 64 hours after the final whistle was blown against Osasuna.

Flick says the calendar is ruining the spectacle on the pitch, pointing out that this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, which Barça will not be involved in, will only make things worse.

“I feel it’s a must to hearken to the gamers,” he added. “That is the vital factor. And in addition to the coaches. In summer season there may be the World Cup for the golf equipment. It is powerful. The [UEFA] Nations League, worldwide breaks…

“I don’t think it’s a good thing this World Cup, in my opinion. OK, you can earn a lot of money, but for the players it’s not good. We have to stop and think about the players.

“Followers need each participant to provide 100%, to see a spectacle … and when it goes on this manner, I feel it is not at this stage. We can not play on this stage. Not solely us, but in addition the opposite groups who will play the World Cup.”

Barça defender Jules Koundé, who played 120 minutes for France on Sunday as they beat Croatia in the Nations League quarterfinal, echoed Flick’s complaints.

“I’m indignant in regards to the date chosen for this recreation, it is not regular,” he told DAZN. “It is true I am lucky to do what I do, I do know that, nevertheless it reveals an absence of respect to the golf equipment, Barça and Osasuna, who each had worldwide gamers, to pick this date.

“We’re not machines and to play our game and give the fans what we want, to put on a show and play with intensity, we need rest.

“Greater than something, it reveals an absence of respect to the gamers. All establishments have to grasp this, not simply LaLiga, everybody.

“We have not said anything before because we didn’t want to look for excuses, but you reach a moment where your voice has to be heard. We are the main actors in this and they can’t just do what they want.”