What Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said about congested schedule?

Many players have complained about packed schedules, leading to fatigue & even injuries.

Before Spain’s UEFA Nations League match against Switzerland on Sunday, manager Luis de la Fuente stated that players must remain connected with their national teams despite worries about the impact on their health due to a packed schedule.

After both sides played opening matches with contrasting results in the competition—Spain ending goalless against Serbia and the Swiss losing 2-0 to Denmark—the European champion will take on Switzerland in Geneva.

“Tomorrow we’ll have a very tough opponent in front of us. I think that during the European Championship we were the teams that played best,” De la Fuente told a press conference on Saturday.

“Tomorrow we will see two teams of a very high level, perhaps in one of the most important games that could be currently played in Europe. We are planning to try to enhance our strengths and minimise those of our opponents.”

The impact on the national team due to the expanded schedule of fixtures was questioned by the Spanish coach.

“We think of the players first. But they also have to play with the national team,” De la Fuente said. “The calendar is agreed (by others), we comply with it, nothing else. (But) it’s our country, our national team, and I think we should give it the importance it has.”

”All the players want to go to the national team and the clubs – without exception – want their players to be internationals. We are victims of this calendar, not the culprits.”

The Spain coach went on to say that in order to preserve the players’ success at the club level, he would not consent to a reduction in their efforts for the national teams.

“Our duty is to represent our country, to put out the best players, to compete to win. We have a huge responsibility, a great prestige to defend and the only way I would know how to do it is to put the players I think are the best,” the Spain coach added.

Besides, we have to be fair, and I would not be fair if I protected some more than others because of their club.”

What do other players think about the congested football schedule?

Although Luis de la Fuente made some valid points, many players would disagree with him. Those who have complained about the hectic schedule of matches could undoubtedly be correct. Players hardly have time for recovery. Playing more than 90 games in a season is clearly becoming burdensome for them.

Numerous athletes have expressed their disapproval of the season’s excessive number of unnecessary games. Portugal star Bernardo Silva has spoken about playing so many games in a season. He had said: “I think there are two completely different issues here. When the players complain, people say that players can’t complain about the life they have. And they’re right because we’re fulfilling a dream and we do what we do.“

“On the other hand, the schedule is completely crazy. We’ve just received the news that we only have one day off for the English League Cup game.”

”We play Arsenal, we rest for a day and then we have the game against Watford. And if we don’t get knocked out of any other competition, we’ll play every three days for months. It’s been absolutely absurd.”

“In the Champions League, if you don’t qualify for the round of 16 you still have to play two more games. It’s true that the squads are bigger, but I’m not going to say that it’s easy. It hasn’t been easy. I spend very little time with my family and friends. The amount of games we’re subjected to is absolutely absurd.”

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