Hansi Flick saw Barcelona get out of jail at Newcastle and then ordered his players to recharge their batteries ahead of a key week in their season.
Lamine Yamal’s stoppage-time penalty salvaged a 1-1 draw from Barça’s Champions League round of 16, first-leg trip to St James’ Park on Tuesday on an evening when they were under the cosh for long periods, and they will head into the return at the Nou Camp next Wednesday as favourites.
However, LaLiga’s leaders must first safely negotiate Sunday’s home league clash with Sevilla if they are to maintain a four-point advantage over arch rivals Real Madrid, and that may be easier said than done with injuries and fatigue taking their toll.
Flick said: “It’s like that at the moment. We have to rest, so the job is from the players now rest, prepare well for the next game we have on Sunday.
“We have some days to prepare well. We have no days off, but at the end, it’s like that. It’s normal. When you play at this level with Champions League, with LaLiga, it’s normal that you have these games every three or four days.
“It’s normal and we have to adapt and we have to make things good between these days.”
Flick already knew he would be without Alejandro Balde, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Jules Koundé and Andreas Christensen on the eve of the game on Tyneside, but also lost defender Eric García as he finalised his plans.
He was nevertheless able to name a strong starting lineup as Pedri, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski returned among five changes.
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However, although there were flashes of what he has come to expect from his team, the hosts enjoyed the better of the game and looked to be heading for victory courtesy of Harvey Barnes’ 86th-minute strike until the late drama.
Malick Thiaw’s foul on substitute Dani Olmo prompted Italian referee Marco Guida to point to the penalty spot and, with the final kick of the game in the sixth minute of time added on, Yamal obliged from 12 yards to ensure it ended all square.
“We have to accept it, but we have to do it much better next week,” Flick said.
“It’s not easy because here, the atmosphere was fantastic, they played also fantastic. Obviously, they have a lot of dynamic, very fast players and it’s not easy.
“You have to always been 100% focused, concentration has to be high and we did it in the defence very well.”
