This is precisely the period that helped spawn the word "FIFA virus", the spanish media term used to describe the costly injuries clubs sides are left to deal with following international breaks.
The stakes here aren't only the physical fitness of these players but mental too. Players in the top-flight sometimes travel 581,938 miles to represent their countries in friendlies or qualifying matches across the globe.
Luis Suarez once had to travel 16,859 miles to play in Uruguay's qualifier against Jordan in Montevideo on Wednesday and was expected to feature for liverpool the saturday of that same week in a merseyside derby.
It is a time when club managers are frustrated that they are not in daily contact with their players.
Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, once said: "because of the international break, the next match is in 15 days," the chelsea trainer told reporters.
"I don't know what happens in days; every player goes away with their national team and i stay for two weeks with four players.
"I can't work, I can't improve at this moment, I can't do anything during these two weeks to improve my team.
Mourinho's sentiments is one shared by many club manager across the world.
This is also a period when club managers go back to God in prayers against a constant backdrop of injury worry.
Arsenal coach, Arsene Wenger is concerned the international break could add to the club's injury list.
"My plan is to pray now that everyone comes back from the international games without injure because we have a small group," he said, according to Arsenal official website.
A quick rundown of the players who got injured in this international break: Shay Given, Lorenzo Insigne, Rooney, Trapp, Pogba, Benzema, Gotze, Aguero, David Silva, Morata, Ivanovic, Matic, Conentrao, David Luiz, Schweinsteiger and this is just the first week of the international break, no wonder international breaks are the scorn of club managers.
City fans will be cursing their luck as the derby would have been the perfect opportunity to demolish United’s faltering title winning hopes. Manchester United after their humiliating defeat against Arsenal have a tough run of fixtures which could make or break their season. Chelsea fans on the other hand have a reason to be happy as Ivanovic who easily has been their worst player this season has returned injured after playing for his country.
FIFA should looking into the scheduling as players are forced to travel long distance to play for their countries in the midst of an already jam packed season within their clubs.
By Nzube Unachukwu
A player is first from country before club. Buh fifa should schedule all international matches after d season.
ReplyDeleteYes a player is first from country but the club does all the spendings. Your solution is even worse;it means the players won't have any break. There is really no way else to leverage it.
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