Celtic are among a clutch of clubs across the world that have to endure a fixture timetable that is getting heavier by the year.
Amid their involvement in the Champions League, 67 Hail Hail has extensively covered the potential for squad rotation at Celtic to manage the volume of matches Brendan Rodgers will have to contend with.
Key figures from across the sport have called out the increased workload. Earlier today, Manchester City midfielder Rodri revealed some players are ‘close’ to going on strike in protest if no other option arises from governing bodies due to player welfare concerns [BBC Sport].
The Citizens are scheduled to play at least four times compared to last season. Celtic competed in 50 contests across 2023/24, and that number could also multiply with the new Swiss-style format on offer in Europe’s premier competition.
Echoing Rodri’s concerns from a football stand, Rodgers is worried about what the schedule could do to output on the pitch.
Brendan Rodgers concerned by football timetable
In a pre-match interview with Sky Sports via X, Rodgers believes both those on the pitch and supporters should be prioritised to ensure the ‘quality’ of matches remains paramount rather than leading players down a path of fatigue.
He stated: “I think it’s something that I’ve mentioned before; I think that if you look to football may be heading, you’re maybe looking at a 12-month season, really. It used to be that you had that sort of summer break, and that was near enough assured from a player perspective.
“I think, in particular, the top players as well, and we look at our own selves in our own country, we’ll hopefully go deep into the competitions, so you’ve got all of those games plus the international games. I totally understand where he is coming from; he’s not moaning about games; it’s about the quality of games.
“When the first thing that goes is technical ability when you’re tired and fatigued, what we always want is the best product for the supporters. Every football player loves to play, they love to train, but they want to produce quality and be able to be at their best as often as they can be, so it’s a natural concern, I totally get it.”
Football is becoming more consumer-friendly by the day, and the positive aspect is that you never have to wait too long without a game to watch.
Nevertheless, the volume of matches is becoming a major problem. Injuries are on the rise across the leagues, and it is difficult to keep everyone up to speed on a weekly basis.
How that gets solved remains to be seen. Celtic are one of a number of clubs affected, so it is only fair players and managers get to have their say on the matter.
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