Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde believes that Premier League champions Chelsea have an advantage over his side due to an extra day’s rest.
As reported by Marca, Valverde, who was speaking at his weekly press conference explained the differences in the two side’s preparation.
It is more mental than physical, the weeks when you have four days rest you can manage better than three. We will have three before we take on Chelsea and Chelsea will have four. That day extra, to have a break from the pressure of staying in the cup is good to have.
Barcelona travel to seventh-placed Eibar on Saturday afternoon in what could pose to be a difficult afternoon for the Catalan side.
The Blues themselves were in action on Friday night as they eased past Championship strugglers Hull City in the FA Cup.
Goals from Willian, Pedro and Olivier Giroud comfortably sealed Chelsea’s place in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Chelsea themselves have found themselves victims of poor fixture scheduling this season, but on this occasion, the Premier League appear to be protecting their sides in Europe.
Barcelona face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night before the return leg at the Nou Camp in the middle of March.
