Barcelona's Kounde furious over lack of rest: We're 'not machines'

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde expressed his anger over being forced to play against Osasuna in La Liga on Thursday in a rescheduled match which the clubs had asked not to play.

Hansi Flick's league leaders won 3-0 and moved three points clear at the top of the table but Kounde said the game being set for this date was a lack of respect to the clubs and players.

Barcelona and Osasuna appealed against the decision to play the game on Thursday after it was initially postponed on March 8 following the death of a doctor at the Catalan club, but their pleas were ignored.

"I'm angry about the date of the game, I don't think it's normal," Kounde told DAZN.

"I know that people find it hard to understand sometimes and we are lucky to do what we do... but I think it is a lack of respect to the club to play the game on this date.

"It doesn't matter which club, Osasuna too, who have internationals too... who have not had the rest they need."

Kounde played 120 minutes for France on Sunday in the Nations League against Croatia, for whom Osasuna's Ante Budimir featured.

"It could be Barcelona, Osasuna, or Real Madrid, and I think that beyond a lack of respect to the clubs it's a lack of respect to the players," continued the French defender.

"They have to understand that we are not machines, and to play our game and give the fans what we want, we need rest.

"I think all institutions, and not just La Liga, have to understand that."

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was unhappy that midfielder Dani Olmo was injured during the game.

"(As I said before) it's not the right date for playing this match, I think also after the international break, I think it was not good," Flick told reporters.

"We have three points more, but we paid a really high price for the injury of Dani.

"It's not good and we don't know how long he will be out."