Premier League
Expanded Schedules Makes Injuries Unavoidable – Says Erik Ten Hag
Erik ten Hag has warned the increasing number of fixtures will leave top players facing an “almost unavoidable” risk of injury as Manchester United heads into their opening game of the new-look Europa League.
Expanded European events and next summer’s extended Club World Cup have led to growing concerns about players’ workloads.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri indicated that players might consider going on strike to protest the increasing fixture congestion, just days before he reportedly sustained a season-ending knee injury.
United begin their European campaign at home to Twente on Wednesday in a 36-team Europa League league phase which sees each club play eight matches.
“The format I think we have to take this experience and then judge,” Ten Hag told a pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
“There are too many games. It’s clear. Too many competitions,” he added.
“For the top players, they are overloaded and this is not good for football.
“At the end of the day, it’s maybe good for commercials, but there is a limit. It’s almost unavoidable that players get injured because of the overload from so many games.”
Asked what could be done to improve the situation, the Dutchman said, “I think as a club alone, you can’t change this. It’s more about the total industry…
“At the end of the day, it’s financial. Also, we are professional, so revenues have to come, but we have to balance this out.”
United missed several opportunities in Saturday’s goalless draw against Crystal Palace, leaving them with only seven points from five Premier League matches and positioned outside the top 10.
That stalemate, however, followed a 3-0 win at Southampton and a 7-0 League Cup defeat to Barnsley.
“Concerned? We create a lot of chances in the first games of the season,” said Ten Hag. “Last week we scored seven against Barnsley, so we are capable of scoring many goals.
“But it’s a part of the game we have to be better in, we have to improve and kill more in the box.”
Ten Hag will face Twente, a club where he came through the youth ranks and had three spells as a player before moving into coaching with the Eredivisie side.
“Of all the teams, Twente is the team that I follow the most,” said Ten Hag. “I watch them as a fan, as a supporter, not as an analyst. It’s a different way of watching their games…
“I would have preferred to have played against somebody else. It’s not nice to have to hurt something you love.”
