Barcelona defender Jules Koundé has expressed strong dissatisfaction with LaLiga’s scheduling following his team’s 3-0 victory over Osasuna on Thursday night.
The match has been rescheduled due to the death of a Barcelona team doctor just before the international break, left both teams frustrated as some players had only 24 hours of rest before returning to club duties.
Despite appeals from both clubs to postpone the fixture, LaLiga denied the requests, leading to widespread discontent among players and staff.
Koundé, who was born in Paris to a Beninese father, voiced his concerns post-match. He emphasized the excessive number of games players are subjected to and the insufficient recovery time
“I’m angry about the date. It’s not normal. We’ve talked about the schedule many times; we play too many games.
“I know there are people who don’t understand. I consider myself lucky to make a living from our passion, but it’s disrespectful, and not just to the club.
“I’m also talking about Osasuna, who had hospitalisations, like (Ante) Budimir, who I faced and didn’t get the rest he needed. The club doesn’t matter: Osasuna , Barcelona, Real Madrid … It’s a lack of respect for the players, not just the clubs. We’re not machines, and to play our game and put on a good performance, we need rest.
“All institutions, not just LaLiga, have to understand this. They can’t set dates however they want… you understand me, right?”
