[ad_1]
Jürgen Klopp has accused Premier League chief executive Richard Masters of a lack of leadership over the decision to drop the five-substitute rule, and anger is building among coaches over the increase in muscle injuries this season.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola condemned the “sporting directors, presidents (and) presidents” who voted against persisting with five substitutes in the Premier League after their temporary introduction during Project Restart. Frank Lampard, Steve Bruce and Ole Gunnar Solskjær have also voiced their criticism after a report from Premier Injuries showed a dramatic 42% increase in muscle injuries already in this period.
FIFA sanctioned the continued use of five substitutes in all competitions until August 2021, with Germany, Spain and Italy among the European leagues to accept. But the majority of Premier League clubs, arguing that the rule favors teams with larger squads, voted to revert to three substitutions. The Liverpool manager believes the decision should be reversed and may never have been made if Masters had made a more informed argument up front.
Klopp said, “It should be [back on the agenda] but I don’t think it’s possible because of the system. Obviously it doesn’t help when Chelsea are injured, City, Liverpool, United, Tottenham, Arsenal and Leicester, because they are not enough votes for the rest.
“That is the system. I thought I should have come back in the first place.
“For me it’s a lack of leadership to just put the question on the table and say, ‘So what do you want with that?’ It should have been sold, if that’s the right word, differently with more information, showing more of what could happen, by Richard Masters. We never ask for any advantage.
“None of the seven best clubs asked for an advantage. We just knew, because we knew our schedule, that it would be incredibly difficult. Having the best matches on the weekend in the Premier League would have helped too. I think we should think again. “
Guardiola, like Klopp, has lost multiple players to muscle injuries as he struggled with the dual demands of Champions League football and a condensed Premier League campaign. He insists that all clubs have a duty to protect the well-being of players, not just those in European competition.
The city manager said: “It’s time to take care of the main reason everyone is in this business: soccer players. Five substitutions is not about the advantage for some teams, it is to protect the players, all of them in the last 15, 25, 30 minutes. When you play every three days you start to suffer.
“Why is it happening all over the world in all the leagues – Italy, Germany, Spain – and here where it is most demanding for many reasons we cannot protect the players? It is not to protect Manchester City. The statistics speak for themselves: almost 50% more muscle injuries than last season. Why? Because players are playing and looking to bounce back from the previous game, but most of them are still bouncing back from the previous season, why shouldn’t we? It doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t make sense. “
Guardiola reserved much of his anger for the club officials who voted against the proposal without consulting the managers. He added: “Who voted? Sports directors, presidents, presidents – who are they to decide this? Who are they? They have to protect the players ”.
His words were echoed by his Manchester rival, Solskjær. The United manager said: “I don’t understand and I can’t believe the vote was against because we have to take care of the players. This season is the most demanding of all. I can see why the clubs voted against it, but if you take a step back and think about these professional footballers and their mental and physical health, the only sensible solution would have been to give us the opportunity to rest a little more.
Klopp will be without Fabinho against West Ham on Saturday after the midfielder, who has been a substitute for Virgil van Dijk in central defense, suffered a hamstring injury against Midtjylland. The Brazilian is expected to return after the next international break.
Van Dijk, meanwhile, underwent surgery to repair his damaged ACL in London and Liverpool said the operation was a success.
