The coach believes he did the right thing to rest Messi and De Jong against Dynamo as the duo had played almost every possible minute for both club and respective countries.
Now, both players are fresh ahead of the crucial Osasuna game.
“I think Messi has had a good rest, like De Jong,” Ronald Koeman told Marca during the press conference.
The coach once again explained his decision to rest the duo against Dynamo earlier this week: “They’d played everything with Barcelona and their national teams. They couldn’t go on like that and that’s why we left them at home.
“I hope they’re fresh and have energy against Osasuna.”
Indeed, De Jong and Messi remain among Barca’s most-used players, capping 980 and 945 minutes out of possible 1080.
The duo didn’t travel to Kyiv for the Champions League game this Tuesday but Barca still managed to win 4-0.
Now, both Leo and Frenkie are in the squad to face Osasuna this Sunday afternoon, kick-off is at 14:00 CET.
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