Let’s answer the question from the subheading right away – five games in 13 days. Starting with the derby against Atletico, followed by Betis, then two legs against Borussia in the Champions League, with Leganes squeezed in between. But there’s no time to rest—Barcelona plays Celta already on Saturday at 17:15.However, what bothers coach Hansi Flick more than the packed schedule is the timing of the match against Valladolid in La Liga’s 34th round, scheduled for May 3 at 22:00. To make matters worse, Barca plays away in Valladolid and then hosts Inter in the Champions League semi-final just three days later, on Wednesday, May 6.Hansi Flick: “This calendar doesn’t help us, and it doesn’t help Spanish football either, because if we succeed, and other clubs succeed in European competitions, it is good for Spanish football.” pic.twitter.com/reb84OZlno— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) April 18, 2025 “They’ve done it to us again. Just like before the second leg against Borussia, and now again before Inter. We land at 4 a.m., go to bed at 5. Only in this league. In every other country, clubs representing the nation in the Champions League get some sort of protection—except here. We have no time to rest. Do you know how many matches we’ve played in the last two weeks? We’re not here to complain, but this only happens here,” Flick fired off ahead of the 32nd La Liga round.The man who transformed BarcelonaAnd he has a point to worry—Barcelona currently sits first in the league table, but Real Madrid is looming just four points behind. Real is already out of the Champions League, while Barca continues to fight on two major fronts: Europe and the domestic title race. On top of that, they’re set to face Real in the Copa del Rey. Fatigue is clearly setting in, and the return leg against Borussia—a team Barca is arguably superior to—showed just how much it can affect performance.“We didn’t play well in Dortmund, maybe we’re not in peak rhythm, but I’m proud of the players. If someone told us during preseason that on April 18 we’d be fighting for the treble—we would’ve all signed for it. In the end, we’ve only had one loss and we’re in the semi-finals. We have to stay positive. We know what we’re doing and the team knows what needs to be done tomorrow.”Still, Flick isn’t hiding his frustration.Hansi Flick: “Every federation, or every league – whether in the Bundesliga or the Premier League – cares about their clubs, but here they do not. We’re allowed to play, then come back at 5 or 6 in the morning. It’s unbelievable.” pic.twitter.com/FZ0ygLIVtF— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) April 18, 2025 “We’re not looking for excuses, but why couldn’t we, since we’re already away, play against Valladolid at 17:00 or 19:00—just like against Celta? It’s a joke. I have no words for the people who make these decisions. They have no idea what rest means for the players, and they don’t even want to talk about it. If we do something big in Europe, it benefits all of Spanish football, right? I’m speechless—this is unsustainable. Every other federation protects its players, but these people don’t care that our guys are going to bed at five in the morning.”To those five games mentioned at the start, add Celta, Mallorca, Real Madrid, and Inter. All of that, just in April. Before Valladolid and the second leg against Inter even arrive.##NAJAVA_MECA_8867793##
