Former Liverpool centre-back Dejan Lovren has criticised the “crazy schedule” footballers are expected to tackle this season.
The Reds find themselves suffering an injury crisis at centre-back following serious injuries to both Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. The pair could both miss the rest of the season, while Liverpool are also without Fabinho currently and Joel Matip is known for his injury problems.
Jurgen Klopp has had to deal with numerous other fitness issues, too, and he is not the only manager having to put up with individuals picking up knocks more often than normal.
Posting on Twitter, Lovren launched into a scathing criticism of the footballing authorities, blaming them for the spate of injuries being experienced not just at Liverpool but across the football world:
People wondering why there is so many injuries, it’s simple.
Too many games, impossible to recover, when you know that this year is a weird one(Covid). No proper time off, (personally I had only 8 days off) no proper pre-season and than the crazy schedule!!— Dejan Lovren (@Dejan06Lovren) November 12, 2020
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Lovren is absolutely right in his assessment – the fact that players are having to go out on international duty and potentially play three games in a week is ludicrous considering what is happening in the world.
It is bad enough for domestic fixtures to be so relentless, but throwing in international games as well – especially friendlies – is nonsensical.
Gomez’s knee injury happened in England training ahead of a friendly against the Republic of Ireland, so it is hard not to feel that it was completely avoidable, leaving a very sour taste.
You can’t help but feel the injuries are only going to continue this season, and by the time Euro 2020 gets underway next summer, squads could be decimated.
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