Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has raged at La Liga for rescheduling their Osasuna clash just two days after the end of the international break.
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Barca play two days after international break Flick rages at La Liga for rescheduling messRaphinha and Araujo to miss Osasuna clash Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Barcelona were set to take on Osasuna in La Liga action earlier this month, however, the clash was cancelled just minutes before kick-off after the Blaugrana side's first-team doctor, Carles Minarro, died in the hours before the match. The RFEF then rescheduled the match to March 27, just days after the end of the international break.
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Barcelona have expressed their unhappiness with the rescheduling as they are unlikely to have two key players back in the side in the form of Raphinha and Ronald Araujo, both of whom played on Tuesday night. Osasuna, on the other hand, expressed dissatisfaction over the date as they were scheduled to play again after just 24 hours, however, their clash against Athletic Club has now been postponed to Sunday. Barcelona boss Flick has now raged at La Liga for the rescheduling.
Getty Images SportWHAT FLICK SAID
Speaking to the media, Flick said: "I don't want to speak about my reaction, I think it's not good. Players have played for their national teams, but we have to play this match. We can speak about if it's the right time to play this tomorrow…
"We can also speak about playing Leganes away at 9 p.m. [on April 12 before the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal against Borussia Dortmund]. When we play away, it's always at 9 p.m., so we arrive back late in the night.
"It's to do with recovery for the players. I am not happy with this. When you see other leagues with Champions League teams, it's different to here. When you play Champions League, it's not about Real Madrid against Barça, it's about protecting your Spanish teams. But we play, no excuses.
"We accept this. It's a task for UEFA, for FIFA that they say after international breaks it's necessary that players have three days rest. LaLiga say we have to play and we say 'Yes, we do it.'"
WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
Flick also confirmed that Raphinha, Araujo and Pau Cubarsi would not be playing against Osasuna on Thursday, March 27. He said: "Rapha and Ronald will not play. They are out. They have a long flight. It's not the best way. They have to recover, train.
"And at centre-back, Eric [Garcia] and Inigo [Martinez] will start for us. Pau will be on the bench. I hope we won't need him because also it's better he has two or three days more. He needs it."