Bitter aftertaste for Flick due to Olmo's injury: 'We're paying the price for that'

Barcelona cruised to a 3–0 victory over Osasuna in a rescheduled La Liga fixture, but the convincing win was overshadowed by growing concerns surrounding player fatigue and scheduling, particularly from manager Hansi Flick.

The German coach did not mince words after the match, openly criticizing the decision to play the match so soon after a taxing international break a move he believes directly contributed to Dani Olmo’s injury and threatens the wellbeing of the squad as a whole.

The fixture, hastily slotted into an already congested calendar by La Liga, was originally postponed and then reinserted into the schedule with little consideration for player recovery. Coming just days after a series of demanding international games, Barcelona found themselves forced to field a starting eleven composed mostly of players who had barely had time to rest. Spanish internationals such as Dani Olmo, Pedri, Ferran Torres, and Frenkie de Jong had only recently returned from national team duty, where they played a full 120 minutes plus penalties against the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals.

The physical strain on these players was evident. Flick, well aware of the risk, opted to withdraw Frenkie de Jong at halftime as a precaution, hoping to limit potential damage. But the situation escalated minutes later when Dani Olmo, one of the team’s standout performers on the night, went down injured just after scoring the opening goal. The Spanish midfielder was forced off the pitch, and initial medical evaluations suggest he could miss several weeks of action. For Flick, it was the ultimate frustration a player lost to injury in a match he felt should never have taken place at that moment.

Despite the disruption, Barcelona delivered a commanding performance. Ferran Torres and Pedri joined Olmo on the scoresheet, sealing a 3–0 win that keeps the club firmly on top of the La Liga table. Yet Flick’s post-match comments barely touched on the result. Instead, he issued a stern warning to Spanish football authorities and international governing bodies alike, criticizing what he described as an "unsustainable" schedule.

“This was not an easy situation. It was not the right time to play this match,” Flick said in his post-game interview with Spanish media. “We paid the price with Dani Olmo’s injury, and that leaves a bitter aftertaste. I said before the game that this was a risk, and unfortunately, I was right.”

The German manager went on to echo concerns voiced by several players, including defender Jules Koundé, about the relentless pace of modern football. “We need to start listening to the coaches and the players. The Club World Cup this summer is going to be incredibly demanding. Yes, it brings a lot of money, and it’s a major event, but without proper recovery time, we are only hurting the players. And ultimately, that affects the quality of the football.”

Flick argued that fewer matches and more rest would not only help protect players from injury but also improve the product on the pitch. “The fans expect us to give everything to entertain them, to show quality, intensity, creativity. But in conditions like this, we can’t perform to our full potential. I’m not the only one who feels this way. We’re seeing injuries across every league, and this is not a coincidence.”

Barcelona’s quick turnaround continues this weekend, with a difficult match against Girona already scheduled for Sunday afternoon. The fixture congestion continues to test the depth and endurance of the squad, particularly with key players like Gavi already out long-term and others now under physical strain.

To make matters potentially more complicated, post-match reports from Spanish media suggest that Osasuna may challenge the eligibility of Iñigo Martínez, who featured for Barcelona in the win. According to the reports, the Pamplona-based club is exploring whether the defender was cleared to play under FIFA regulations. Martínez had recently withdrawn from the Spanish national team due to injury, and FIFA rules state that a player in such a situation must wait five full days after the final international fixture before returning to club action. Spain’s last match took place on Sunday, and Barcelona played Osasuna on Thursday four days later. Should Osasuna file an official complaint and it be upheld, it could have serious consequences for Barcelona’s victory.

As it stands, the result keeps Barcelona at the top of the table, but the clouds surrounding player health, fixture overload, and possible disciplinary fallout threaten to overshadow what should have been a routine win. For Hansi Flick and his team, the focus now turns to recovery both physical and tactical as they prepare to face Girona in yet another quick-fire turnaround that leaves little time to regroup.