Barcelona’s head coach, Hansi Flick, expressed frustration on Friday regarding La Liga’s decision to reschedule his team’s match against Real Valladolid. The game, now set for 9:00 pm on Saturday, May 3, was moved from its original Sunday afternoon time slot. The alteration leaves Barcelona with less than three days to prepare for a crucial Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan on May 6.
Flick labeled the new schedule a “joke” during a news conference, stating that it shows a lack of concern for the players’ well-being. He made it clear that he wanted to meet with the individuals responsible for the decision, describing the situation as “unbelievable” and saying, “I want to see this guy who’s responsible for that. For me, it’s a joke.”
Barcelona, currently involved in three major competitions, faces the additional burden of fixture congestion, something Flick is no stranger to from his time at Bayern Munich. However, he emphasized that the scheduling clash before a critical European fixture left him “speechless.”
Flick pointed out the disparity between La Liga and other top European leagues, such as the Bundesliga and Premier League, which typically ensure their clubs receive better scheduling protection when playing in the Champions League, especially during the semi-finals. “Every league protects their clubs when they play in the Champions League, especially in the semi-final,” he noted. “But here [in Spain], it’s just let them play.”
Barcelona’s manager made these remarks ahead of their La Liga match against Celta Vigo on Saturday, where his team has a chance to extend their lead over Real Madrid to seven points at the top of the table. This match comes after Barcelona’s 3-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-finals, which ended their unbeaten streak in 2025 but saw them advance to the semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate victory.
