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Victor Petkov
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Ten Hag also raises concerns over heavy schedule
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Manchester United's manager is not happy with the overload on the players every season

Erik ten Hag has raised concerns about player welfare, citing an overloaded fixture calendar that leaves top players more prone to injuries. Speaking ahead of Manchester United’s Europa League opener against Twente, Ten Hag emphasized that the increasing number of matches, especially in top European leagues like the Premier League, is putting excessive strain on players. He pointed out that while the packed schedule may benefit commercial interests, it risks compromising player health and the overall quality of football.

Last season, English clubs recorded the highest number of back-to-back matches, with Manchester United having the shortest recovery time between games — just 64 hours and 15 minutes between matches against Fulham and Newcastle United in November.

Ten Hag stated, “There is a limit and players are getting injuries. It is almost unavoidable because of the overload of so many games.” He stressed the need for balance between revenue generation and player welfare, especially as the European club competitions expand to 36 teams this season.

These concerns echo those raised by Manchester City midfielder Rodri, who suggested that players might be close to striking due to the overwhelming number of matches. Additionally, FIFPRO, the soccer players’ union, has filed a complaint with EU antitrust regulators over FIFA’s international match calendar, highlighting the broader issue of excessive scheduling in football.

Despite these challenges, Ten Hag emphasized the importance of focusing on the task at hand, noting that “every match is significant, every goal is significant” under the new Europa League format.