"We Are Not Machines,": Jules Kounde Slams La Liga Over Packed Schedules (image-instagram/jkeey4)
Barcelona defender Jules Kounde expressed his distress over La Liga officials following his team’s 3-0 victory over Osasuna on Thursday evening. The match was originally postponed on March 8 after the demise of the team doctor. However, the league ignored both teams’ request to delay it further.
Kounde had urged the officials to be considerate before scheduling fixtures, particularly after international breaks. “I’m angry about the date of the game,” Kounde told DAZN. “We are not machines. To give fans what they want, we need rest.” Kounde had just returned after playing 120 minutes for France. Similarly, Osasuna’s Ante Budimir had also returned after his international duty.
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When La Liga had rescheduled the match to March 27, a decision which had frustrated head coach Hansi Flick, as it fell just 72 hours after the conclusion of the international break. This decision had left the players who were on national team duty with little or no time for rest and recovery. Moreover, before the match with Osasuna, Flick had also announced that he would not risk starting Raphinha, Ronald Araujo, or Pau Cubarsi, due to the lack of rest. “Rapha and Ronald will not play. They are out. They have a long fight. It’s not the best way. They have to recover, train.”
While speaking to the reporters after the match, Kounde said, “I’m angry about the date. It is not something normal. We have spoken many times about the calendar, we play too many games.”
The Barca player has also taken the clips of his post-match conference expressing concern to his X account, tagging both La Liga chief Javier Tebas and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
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Meanwhile, as for the Catalans, the team has moved three points clear of rivals Real Madrid at the top of the La Liga table. Their next game is scheduled for Sunday, March 30, against Girona at the Montjuïc.
