Earlier last week, Kevin De Bruyne made headlines when he described the UEFA Nations League as ‘unimportant’ while labelling the matches as ‘glorified friendlies’ that European players have to partake in after the end of a gruelling campaign.
Despite the Manchester City star being blunt in his criticism of the competition, his comments were largely well received, as it is widely acknowledged that the physical demands on elite footballers due to the burden of constant fixtures across all competitions are unprecedented.
The Belgian international - who has started proceedings in all of the last three Nations League matches against the likes of the Netherlands, Poland and Wales - went on to share his honest opinion on the relentless football calendar once again.
“It is what it is. Obviously when people ask me a question, I will give you my honest answer. People will take it good or bad. I don’t care. I know nothing is going to change."
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"Even with what I have said, I have played three games at the top of my physical level and I’m probably one of the only ones with Axel (Witsel) who has played these three games for Belgium. So physically I am fine. But it just doesn’t make any sense,” he said, as quoted by Phil Blanche of the Independent.
The two-time PFA Players’ Player of The Year has given an insight into the challenges of such an unrelenting schedule from a footballer’s perspective, saying, “You are never going to play 79 games. It’s not possible. But it’s not only playing games, it’s the training, the travelling, it’s everything. Sometimes you go away and you travel, but you don’t play. That is even exhausting. In the end, you have to take it like it is.”
Kevin De Bruyne’s candid assessment of the challenges that come with how the current football calendar is set up is key as it may inspire the decision-makers right at the very top to incite much-needed change.
Topics: Manchester City, Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, UEFA Nations League
Srinivas Sadhanand