Hansi Flick Gives Barcelona Stars Time Off After El Clasico Defeat Amid Burnout Concerns

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has decided to give his first-team players two days off following their painful 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in the latest El Clasico. The defeat ended Barcelona's unbeaten run in La Liga and came shortly after a 4-2 Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

The back-to-back setbacks revealed a noticeable dip in the team's usual sharpness, prompting Flick to prioritize rest over immediate tactical changes. The squad will avoid training until Wednesday to recover both mentally and physically from their demanding schedule.

Stars at Ballon d'Or While Others Rest

While most of the team takes this break, several players like Lamine Yamal, Joan Garcia, and Rodri are attending the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London. Defender Pau Cubarsi chose not to travel, focusing instead on recovery at home.

Despite recent struggles, it was a memorable night for Yamal, who placed third overall behind winner Harry Kane and runner-up Kylian Mbappe. Yamal also won his third consecutive Kopa Trophy but credited teammate Cubarsi, praising his form and recognition as World Cup young player of the year.

Travel Woes and Fatigue Add Pressure

Flick’s concerns about player exhaustion have been growing. Travel troubles after a match in Seville disrupted their schedule severely; the team was stuck on a plane for over an hour before returning to their hotel. This delay shortened their recovery time ahead of the Champions League trip to Paris. Combined with injuries and a heavy fixture list, fatigue has become a major issue.

The coach believes players need a mental break alongside sticking to dietary plans to regain the energy that marked their strong start to the season.

Preparing for Alaves Clash

The squad will regroup on Wednesday, ready to dive into tactical analysis and address mistakes shown against PSG and Real Madrid. Flick hopes this pause will reset the team as they prepare for their next La Liga match against Alaves.

• Next Matches:
• Barcelona vs Alaves - 31 Oct 2026, 22:00
• San Sebastian vs Real Madrid - 01 Nov 2026, 17:15