Germany’s national football team head coach, Hansi Flick, weighed in on LaLiga’s questionable scheduling of matches for FC Barcelona. He even called it a “joke.” Barcelona are suffering from fixture congestion as they’re still alive in three tournaments. This is exemplified by their continued presence in the Champions League. With key players sidelined due to injuries, Barcelona faces mounting challenges as they prepare for their upcoming match against Celta de Vigo.
The 58th all-time meeting between Barcelona and Celta is just around the corner. Barcelona will be looking to increase their advantage at the summit of LaLiga to seven points! The Catalan club has a stunning record when playing against Celta, with 28 wins from their last 58 meetings. On the pitch, the U.S. are unbeaten in their last three meetings. They’ve lost just one of their last six meetings with the Galician outfit.
Challenges of Fixture Congestion
FC Barcelona find themselves in several competitions this season and thus, an incredibly tight fixture calendar. Even more pressure comes from the club’s deep run in the Champions League, with injuries now threatening to decimate the starting lineup. Alejandro Balde, Marc Casado, Marc Bernal, and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen are out. This long-shot scenario only adds to the burden faced by the coaching staff.
Flick has a clear understanding of the challenges stemming from fixture congestion due to his time gained in the same field at Bayern Munich. His testimony on how much he cared for the players’ health was moving. He said Spanish football isn’t doing enough to safeguard them in this dire crisis. His disappointments reached a boiling point with an announcement for an in-person sit down with LaLiga powers that be to figure out the scheduling kerfuffle.
“I want to see this guy who’s responsible for that. For me, it’s a joke.” – Hansi Flick
Flick drove home the point that other big leagues surely focus on their teams’ wellbeing when they compete on the international stage. He pointed to examples where leagues like the Bundesliga and Premier League are proactively taking action. These measures guarantee that clubs face appropriate fatigue levels at key moments in the season.
Barcelona’s Strong Performance Against Celta
Even with so much thrown at them, Barcelona have broken the odds to continue their dominance over Celta de Vigo in recent meetings. Their unbeaten streak against Celta shows their dominance against them in their head-to-head matchups. Barcelona have traditionally prepared well for this pivotal contest. Flick is pushing his players to dial in their individual strengths and improve upon past displays.
“It’s unbelievable and we have no time to rest … the guys who are responsible for that, I want to discuss with them, because they have no idea how it is.” – Hansi Flick
The team aims to rectify their performance after a less-than-ideal showing in their previous Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. Flick has made it clear that the German side need to be at their best level to beat Celta. They’re a very difficult side, particularly on the road.
Looking Ahead
Celta de Vigo comes into this match dealing with their own strife. They’ll be without injuries to key players Hugo Alvarez and Carl Starfelt mean they’ll be missing. This throws a highly volatile piece of match up into the already tense mix. Neither team needs an introduction to the importance of this point in the season. They are still very much intent on cementing strong finishes in LaLiga.
“Bundesliga, Premier League, take care about the clubs. But here not. It’s just let them play.” – Hansi Flick
Flick’s comments highlight some important issues about the treatment of the players and scheduling practices in Spanish football. As Barcelona looks to continue its impressive form and maintain its lead in LaLiga, the club must navigate these challenges while prioritizing player health and performance.
