With just three days to recover before the crucial Champions League semi-final return leg against Inter Milan on May 6, FC Barcelona is at a turning point as they get ready to play Real Valladolid on Saturday, May 3.  Barcelona’s head coach, Hansi Flick, has taken to La Liga officials to express his frustrations with this jam-packed timetable, calling it a “joke” calendar that disregards player wellbeing.

 Flick voiced his displeasure at a press conference on Friday, saying, “I want to see this individual who is accountable for that.  It’s a joke to me.  Given the demanding demands imposed on his team as they balance participation across three contests this season, the situation has caused great anxiety.

Flick, who had previously experienced consistent success with Bayern Munich, where he was used to better scheduling, expressed his confusion at the disregard for teams participating in European competitions.  “Never had this before,” he said.  Every league offers its teams protection when they participate in the Champions League, particularly during the semifinals.  Barcelona needs to get back on track after a recent setback in addition to securing league points, which makes the situation much more urgent.

Days earlier, Barcelona had suffered their first setback of 2025 in the Champions League quarterfinals, losing 3-1 to Borrussia Dortmund.  However, with a 5-3 aggregate score, the Catalan giants proceeded to the semi-finals.  In addition to looking for atonement in Europe, they now aim to extend their La Liga lead over Real Madrid to seven points.  A vital chance to regain confidence before another tough week is presented by the forthcoming matchup against celto Vigo.