This isn’t the first time Hansi Flick has had some harsh words for the Spanish soccer association. The head coach of FC Barcelona was pretty upset about the tight schedule.
For Hansi Flick and FC Barcelona, the scheduling of matches this season has been a constant source of controversy. Recently, the scheduling of the rescheduled match against Osasuna (3-0) caused a stir – an appeal against the postponement was rejected. Around a month later, there is now renewed outrage in the Barca camp.
This time, the trigger is the timing of the recently scheduled matches against Mallorca (Tuesday, April 22, 9:30 p.m.), the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid (Saturday, April 26, 10 p.m.) and the league match at Real Valladolid, which will take place on Sunday, May 4 (2 p.m.), just two days before the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan (Tuesday, May 6, 9 p.m.).
Hardly any time to recover before the return leg at Inter
“Do you know how many games we’ve played in the last few weeks?” Flick replied to a reporter at the press conference ahead of the home game against Celta Vigo (Saturday, 4:15 p.m.). In his view, the Catalans are now “in the same situation as before the game in Milan,” which is scheduled to take place in less than two weeks. A comparatively weaker performance than in the second leg in Dortmund (1-3) is therefore not entirely excusable, but in a sense simply human.
“We arrive very late, at 3 or 4 a.m., and the players are probably in bed at 5 a.m.” – and that’s ‘two days before’ one of the most important games of the season. Flick said he didn’t want to ‘make excuses,’ but at the same time made it clear: ”I’ve never had this before. Every league protects its clubs when they play in the Champions League – especially in the semifinals. It’s unbelievable.”
His players, who are already suffering enough under the heavy strain, have ‘no time to recover,’ explained the 60-year-old, adding: ”I want to talk to those responsible. Because they have no idea what it’s like.”
Flick did not shy away from giving another illustrative example to back up his frustration. Although he was generally pleased that the outstanding match in Valladolid had been brought forward from Sunday afternoon (2 p.m.) to Saturday, he still found the new kick-off time (9 p.m.) incomprehensible.
“Why can’t we play at 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. like we normally do? Why is that not possible? Give me one reason! And I want to see the person responsible. To me, it’s a joke.”
Positive European results ‘good for Spanish soccer’
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s coach did not limit the problem to his own team, but also referred to the remaining teams that continue to represent La Liga in European competitions. International success for Barca, Athletic Bilbao (Europa League) or Real Betis Sevilla (Conference League) would therefore be “good for Spanish football, because then we might have one more team that can play in the Champions League.”
Despite all the noise, the Catalans now need to focus on their upcoming home game against Celta Vigo in order to at least maintain their four-point lead over Real Madrid in La Liga and move closer to the championship title.
In order to radiate positivity despite all the outrage off the pitch, Flick also reminded everyone that the Blaugrana’s starting position remains extremely comfortable: “If someone had told me that on April 18 we would be in the Champions League semi-finals, in the Copa del Rey final and top of the league, I would have kissed them, hugged them and said, ‘Okay, I’ll take that.'”
