Flick fumes at schedule as Olmo faces long lay-off
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is angry with LaLiga's schedule after Dani Olmo was injured during his side's 3-0 victory over Osasuna.
The match had been rearranged after it was postponed earlier in March after the death of Barcelona first-team doctor Carles Minarro Garcia, and both teams are slated to play again on Monday (AEDT).
Flick's side cruised to victory to go three points clear at the top of the table, with Olmo among the scorers before he suffered an adductor injury, and the club has since confirmed the midfielder will be out for around three weeks.
That means Barca could be without him for a crucial run of fixtures, including a UEFA Champions League quarter-final double header against Borussia Dortmund.
The Blaugrana host Girona in their next league match on Monday (AEDT), before visiting Atletico Madrid for the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Thursday (AEDT), with that tie poised at 4-4 after the first leg.
They are at home in the first leg against Dortmund on 10 April (AEDT), before going to Germany for the return fixture six days later.
LaLiga's decision to schedule Friday's (AEDT) game was appealed by both Barcelona and Osasuna, but that appeal was dismissed.
"Today we made the best of the situation we have," Flick said after the match.
"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 don't know how long he will be out. If it's two weeks it means a lot of matches. Or three weeks more matches. It's not a good situation. The price was very high for the three points."
Barcelona had to play the match without Raphinha, who played for Brazil against Argentina on Wednesday (AEDT), while Ronald Araujo made the bench after returning from Uruguay duty late on Thursday (AEDT).
The match itself, meanwhile, was the first of seven that the league leader will play in the space of 20 days and Flick thinks that the bloated calendar is ruining the spectacle of the sport.
"I think you have to listen to the players. This is the important thing, and also to the coaches. In summer there is the [FIFA] Club World Cup. It's tough. The [UEFA] Nations League, international breaks," he said.
"I don't think it's a good thing this [FIFA Club] 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.
"Fans want every player to give 100 per cent, to see a spectacle ... and when it goes on this way, I think it's not at this level. We cannot play on this level. Not only us, but also the other teams who will play the [FIFA Club] World Cup."
When asked about the performance itself, Flick did acknowledge that he was pleased with his players and that the team was in a great position for the challenge ahead.
"We are going through a great moment and I proud of the team, the way they are facing every game with the same commitment," he said.
"There are 10 games to go and we are three points clear on top so that's good and we have to keep going with the same attitude.
"The situation was not easy, having to play today was not ideal and it cost us as Olmo got injured. It made the win have a bitter taste."
Defender Jules Kounde echoed his coach's concerns about overplaying.
Kounde played 120 minutes for France on Monday (AEDT) in its UEFA Nations League quarter-final against Croatia before featuring for the full game for Barcelona on Friday (AEDT).
"I am angry about the date chosen for this game, it's not normal," he said.
"It's true I'm fortunate to do what I do, I know that, but it shows a lack of respect to the clubs, Barça and Osasuna, who both had international players to select 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.
"More than anything, it shows a lack of respect to the players. All institutions have to understand this, not just LaLiga, everyone.
"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."
