Flick concerned over Barca players' recovery time ahead of Osasuna game

BARCELONA, Spain : Barcelona's national team players have not recovered in time for the LaLiga game at home to Osasuna, manager Hansi Flick said on Wednesday, expressing his disappointment over the rescheduling of the game soon after the international break.

LaLiga leaders Barca face Osasuna on Thursday after the game was postponed earlier this month due to the death of the Catalan club's doctor Carles Minarro Garcia.

Flick said "the players from Spain, France, and the Netherlands need to recover" as they were on international duty during the break and "it's not the best situation for them."

Thirteen Barca players have been on international duty.

Spain called up Pau Cubarsi, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres, Netherlands featured Frenkie de Jong, France included Jules Kounde and Poland had Robert Lewandowski. Fermin Lopez, Pablo Torre and Gerard Martin were with Spain under-21s.

"The players have played with their national teams, and that's bad. Now we have to play against Osasuna, and we have to talk about whether it's the right time ... I'm not happy. There are other leagues that do it differently," he told reporters.

"I can't change that. That's my personal opinion. But we're going to play, we're not making excuses. The team is ready and we have to strive for the best performance. We're going for it.

"The quality of the team is good and we can beat anyone even if the players don't get the optimal rest."

DUO UNAVAILABLE

Barcelona duo Raphinha and Ronald Araujo will be unavailable on Thursday as they played for Brazil and Uruguay respectively in World Cup qualifiers.

"They won't play or be in the team. They're out. The flight is long and it's not the most optimal situation. They have to train," Flick said.

"They