Germany coach, Joachim Löw has said that his players are already exhausted before Bundesliga begins.
Löw is speaking after his side’s 1-1 draw against Spain in their UEFA Nations League opener at the Mercedez Benz Arena, Stuttgart on Thursday.
Although most of Bayern Munich players have been excused from the team, the tactician said some of those who play look to be on their last legs already.
This was the first match the national team will play after nearly 10 months without a fixture. The break allows international coaches starved of time with their players to get back to work this week.
Based on what he saw at the camp, Löw, said the changes to the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons are dangerous for players and difficult for coaches. He therefore described the upcoming campaign as a “hammer programme”. This according to him will have “an impact on health, fitness and quality.”
Congested fixtures await top clubs and coaches
Three matches have already been scheduled for October and November’s international windows. This will have a big effect on players whose clubs are in European competition. Such players will barely have a midweek off until Christmas.
The coronavirus-enforced lockdown has pushed all the leagues governing bodies to a corner. This means that the traditional German winter break for instance, has been reduced dramatically for many sides.
Some German clubs will be involved in DFB Cup games scheduled for December 22 and 23 and the Bundesliga will resume on January 2 in 2021. The winter break used to be four weeks, but it has been up to six in the past.
Joachim Löw criticizes three substitutions
Due to the congested schedules, the DFL on Thursday announced that the Bundesliga would continue to allow five substitutions for the coming season.
This is in contrast to other leagues, such as the Premier League, which has reverted to three substiutions, as was the case in the Nations League.
“I have to express criticism here: If not now, then when? You could say that five changes would make sense,” Joachim Löw said after the game.
Spain’s coach Luis Enrique also expressed regret that he could not make five substitutions. The former Barca coach said such situation would have given the players more rest.
The concerns of Löw are obvious. This is because at least half of his starting eleven are Bayern Munich players. In a tournament year, the treble winners will play over 50 games if they get up to semi finals of all the competitions.
Bayern Munich players, Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich and Serge Gnabry all played over than 50 matches last season. Unfortunately, Bayern has just 26 days to fit in rest, recuperation and preseason training before their title defense begins against Schalke on September 18.
“We have to watch out: the health of the players is above everything. Some are really knackered,” Löw said.
Sharing the same sentiment with Löw is Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. He stated in the club magazine that the team is approaching a season which they will witness more stress than ever before for the players.
Löw omitted all the Bayern stars from his squad except for Süle and Sane, who are working back to full fitness after long-term injuries.
The Germany boss has also said he will shuffle his pack even more for the second Nations League clash with Switzerland on Sunday. Although he admitted that he has little time to tweak things ahead of the clash.
“Logically we will bring in some fresh strength in Switzerland. It was an intensive game. We will not train so much in the next days, we will recover.”
