Following their loss to Girona on Monday, which cost Barcelona the top position in LaLiga, the team’s weary players have been granted a two-day break to recuperate.
In a thrilling finish, Fran Beltrán scored an 86th-minute goal, sealing a surprising 2-1 victory for Girona at Montilivi, just days after Barça suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal.
Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, expressed disappointment after the team’s second consecutive defeat, stating that his players are fatigued after an intense schedule of 13 games over 44 days, which has seen Real Madrid leapfrog them in the standings.
Real Madrid, currently on an eight-game winning streak in LaLiga, leads Barça by two points at the top of the table with 14 matches remaining.
The two teams are set to clash in a crucial Clásico that could be decisive for the title in early May.
“I will give the team two days off,” Flick said. “It’s vital for them to rest. After that, we’ll prepare for our match against Levante on Sunday. We need to fight for the top spot in the table.”
Having secured a top-eight finish in the Champions League, which allows them to progress directly to the round of 16, Barça will now benefit from two weeks without midweek fixtures.
Flick hopes this break will allow his squad to recharge and help recover injured players such as Pedri, Marcus Rashford, and Gavi.
“The players are really fatigued,” Flick noted. “We’re committed to turning things around in the next two weeks, with no midweek games allowing us time to train effectively.
“Hopefully, we’ll have more players available next week. Pedri and Marcus Rashford are nearing a return, and Gavi will start training with the team. It’s a gradual process, but we can reach another level of performance.”
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Despite being critical of his team’s performance against Girona, Flick was also frustrated by the no-call on Jules Koundé during the buildup to Beltrán’s winning goal, which followed Thomas Lemar‘s equalizer to Pau Cubarsí‘s opener.
Claudio Echeverri, on loan from Manchester City, made contact with Koundé, but the VAR chose not to review the incident, allowing the goal to stand.
This decision prompted Flick to walk out of an interview with DAZN after the journalist declined to share their view on whether it was a foul.
“You have no opinion?” the German coach asked. “Alright, then neither do I. I have nothing more to add. Thank you very much.”