Barcelona’s Victory Over Osasuna Comes at a Cost: Dani Olmo’s Injury Sparks Concerns Over Grueling Schedule
BARCELONA, Spain — In the world of football, victories are often celebrated with great enthusiasm, but sometimes they come with a hefty price tag. This was the case for Barcelona as they secured a 3-0 win against Osasuna on Thursday. The triumph, however, was overshadowed by the injury of their key player, Dani Olmo.
The match, originally postponed due to the tragic death of Barça’s first team doctor, Carles Miñarro, was rescheduled for this week, right after the international break. Both teams had protested the timing, but the game went ahead nonetheless.
Barcelona’s victory was secured with goals from Ferran Torres, Olmo, and Robert Lewandowski, propelling them three points clear at the top of LaLiga. However, the joy of the win was marred by Olmo’s injury, which could sideline him for two to three weeks due to an adductor problem, according to sources who spoke to ESPN.
In the post-game news conference, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick expressed his frustration, stating, “Today we made the best of the situation we have. It’s not the right date for playing this match. After the international break, it was not good. We have three points more, but we paid a really high price for the injury of Dani, it’s not good.”
Flick’s concerns are not unfounded. The injury to Olmo means he could miss several crucial matches, and the coach lamented, “We don’t know how long he will be out. If it’s two weeks it means a lot of matches. Or three weeks more matches. It’s not a good situation. The price was very high for the three points.”
Adding to the challenges, Barça had to play without Raphinha, who was unavailable after representing Brazil against Argentina on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Ronald Araújo was an unused substitute, having returned late from Uruguay duty on Wednesday.
The match against Osasuna was just the beginning of a grueling schedule for Barcelona, with seven games lined up in 20 days. Their next league game against Girona is set to kick off just 64 hours after the final whistle against Osasuna.
Flick voiced his concerns about the packed calendar, stating, “I think you have to listen to the players. This is the important thing. And also to the coaches. In summer there is the World Cup for the clubs. It’s tough. The [UEFA] Nations League, international breaks…”
He further criticized the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, which Barcelona will not participate in, saying, “I don’t think it’s a good thing this World Cup, in my opinion. OK, you can earn a lot of money, but for the players it’s not good. We have to stop and think about the players.”
Flick’s sentiments were echoed by Barça defender Jules Koundé, who had played 120 minutes for France in their Nations League quarterfinal win over Croatia. Koundé expressed his frustration, stating, “I am angry about the date chosen for this game, it’s not normal. It’s true I’m fortunate to do what I do, I know that, but it shows a lack of respect to the clubs, Barça and Osasuna, who both had international players, to select this date.”
- “We’re not machines and to play our game and give the fans what we want, to put on a show and play with intensity, we need rest.”
- “More than anything, it shows a lack of respect to the players. All institutions have to understand this, not just LaLiga, everyone.”
- “We have not said anything before because we didn’t want to look for excuses, but you reach a moment where your voice has to be heard. We are the main actors in this and they can’t just do what they want.”
As the debate over the congested football calendar continues, the voices of players and coaches like Flick and Koundé highlight the need for a balance between the demands of the sport and the well-being of its athletes.
Originally Written by: Sam Marsden,Moises Llorens
