Hansi Flick aims dig at Real Madrid over schedule complaints

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has taken aim at Real Madrid over their complaints against an alleged lack of rest between fixtures.

Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti publicly warned La Liga his side would simply refuse to play if they were only given 72 hours rest between games, as was the case after their dramatic Champions League last 16 triumph over Atletico Madrid earlier this month.

72 hours would be a luxury for Barcelona this week as they prepare to face Osasuna on Thursday evening, less than 48 hours after the international break came to a close. Flick has confirmed star forward Raphinha will miss the game due to the fact his latest outing with Brazil did not finish until the early hours of Wednesday morning.

“We have to accept it,” Flick said of the scheduling. “That’s how they decided. We can’t change it. It’s UEFA or FIFA’s job to decide whether players can rest. Ultimately, that’s how it is. La Liga has given the go-ahead.”

Quizzed on whether he could copy Ancelotti in complaining about the scheduling, Flick fired a brutal barb at his Clasico rival.

“We are Barca, not Real Madrid,” he said. “And I’m very proud of being Barca.”

Barcelona head into Thursday’s game sitting pretty at the top of La Liga, tied on points with Madrid but having played one game fewer than Ancelotti’s side after the initial Osasuna clash was postponed following the tragic passing of team doctor Carles Minarro Garcia.