Barcelona manager Hansi Flick insists his side can cope with an increased workload and will make no excuses despite having to deal with a long list of injuries, but he has joined a growing list of high-profile football names calling on UEFA and FIFA to make changes to a packed schedule.
Barca opened the season with five consecutive La Liga wins before suffering their first defeat under Flick against Monaco in the Champions League in midweek.
The return of European football brings two games a week for Barca, which will test the depth of its small squad in the coming weeks, starting with Sunday's league game against unbeaten Villarreal.
“When we started the season I said there were no excuses and we don't have any,” Flick said at a news conference on Saturday. “Every third or fourth day we have games, but I think we can manage it.”
“The players have a very big load, so it's good to have other players, new legs, fresh legs on the field.
“We will achieve it” [at Villarreal] “I'm sure everyone will give their best. We have a team and I think we've shown in the La Liga games how well we can play.”
The football calendar has been in the spotlight this week since Manchester City midfielder Rodri suggested players are considering striking due to the number of games they are being asked to play.
Barça are one of a number of teams struggling with injuries at the start of the campaign, with Ronald Araújo, Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Fermín López and Dani Olmo currently sidelined.
“UEFA and FIFA have to look after the players,” Flick said. “For the players, it's not the best situation. We all love football, we love good performance, so if we want quality at the highest level, I think we have to reduce it.”
“We have seven players out [injured]I never count those players because I focus on the players who can play, but what I see from Frenkie is that he is doing well, we are looking after him because the situation was not easy. I can say the same about Gavi.
“So what I see makes me very happy, I see them all in the rondo. [passing drills]”It's okay. They need time, we'll take care of them.”
In addition to the injuries, Barça will be without Ferran Torres in Villarreal, suspended for being sent off in the last game, but Flick assures that Pedri and Marc Casadó will be available despite missing training on Saturday.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Diego Kochen, who was called up by the United States earlier this month, will be out for about a month, ruling him out of the UMSNT's games against Panama and Mexico in October, the first under new coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Despite the absences, Flick is looking forward to facing a Villarreal side that has won three and drawn two of its opening La Liga games.
“We want to play football,” Flick said. “I know we lost the game against Monaco, but what I showed today was… [the players]The way we defended with nine outfield players in a 4-4-1 was really good.
“We showed them how we want to manage them against a very good team like Villarreal, it is something that has to do with the confidence that the players have in themselves.
“This is what I like about Spanish football, every team knows how to play football, every team loves to have the ball, every player loves to have the ball. This is what I love about our team, everyone knows the game, in which position and in which space they have to play.”
Flick also defended goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who was criticised after the defeat to Monaco for his short pass leading to Eric Garcia being sent off in the 10th minute.
“I think that's one of Marc's strengths, not only stopping the ball but also with the ball, when he has the ball at his feet,” he said.
“This is one of their strengths, this is also our style of play, we don't want to build only with the long ball, we want to play football and everything starts with it.
“Maybe there was a mistake, but that's normal, you make mistakes, I make mistakes, it's normal. We have to analyse it and hopefully we can give the players the right order for next time, but that's a thing of the past and we're looking forward to the next game.”
