Barcelona coach, Hansi Flick, has joined the growing group of players and coaches who, in recent weeks, have criticized the overcrowded match schedule, stating on Saturday that "FIFA needs to take better care of the players."

"I think FIFA needs to take better care of the players. This isn’t the best situation for them. We all love football and want the players to perform at their best. If we want top-quality football, we need to cut down on the number of matches," he said during a press conference at the Joan Gamper Training Center.

Flick admitted that seven of his players are out with injuries, and mentioned that "some players are carrying a heavy load" of minutes, but stressed that this won’t be used as an "excuse" for the team's results. He emphasized that he’s focused only on the available players and making sure they perform "at 100%."

Flick praised Villarreal, warning that he expects "a tough match." "They’ve scored the third-most goals in La Liga. They’re playing very well, strong in defense, and know how to control the ball. They’re an offensive team, and it’s fun to watch them play."