Kevin De Bruyne is having a thronged schedule. From three international matches in a week, to back to back Champions League and Premier League fixtures, the Manchester City stalwart insists that the current football calendar has been very congested and says that it’s ultimately the footballers who are neglected in such hectic schedules.
Football was halted for several months amid the COVID-19 pandemic and after its resumption, several fixtures have been cramped closely together into the start of the new season.
After a friendly against Ivory Coast on Friday, Belgium will face England today, followed by Iceland the next Thursday in their UEFA Nations League fixture. In addition to that, Man City will host Porto in their UCL fixture on 22nd October, just two days before they travel to West Ham for their league game.
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Your body must be able to heal: Kevin De Bruyne worries about fitness amid a hectic calendar
Kevin De Bruyne expressed that such a cramped calendar will be taking a heavy toll on the players and may also increase the risk of injuries.
“Sometimes I worry,” the midfielder said in a recent interview, “Especially when I look at my own situation. I’ve had 8-9 days off. I couldn’t go on vacation because my wife was heavily pregnant. I have not had a holiday.”
Due to the pandemic situation, the 2019-20 Premier League ended in July instead of May, which also reduced the break before the new season kicked off from mid-September.
“If I keep going until the end of the season, it means I will have played for two years without a break,” the Belgian went on, “especially mentally you need that rest. Your body must be able to heal.”
“But nobody listens to the players. Everyone says: you earn good money, you just have to be able to handle it. That’s how it goes. I can handle those comments. I see an injury wave coming,” De Bruyne added.
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