Klopp's warning, Maresca's choice

Chelsea entered this season with a total of six centre-backs on their Premier League registration list – a truly large number.

Chelsea's central defender Acheampong (left) before being injured and forced to leave the field - Photo: REUTERS

But then, in the match against Liverpool in the 7th round of the Premier League, they had no one left to substitute in the second half, to the point where they had to move a central midfielder (Lavia) and a full-back (Hato) into the center of the defense.

Chelsea's injury crisis

Before the match, Chelsea were missing four central defenders: Colwill, Tosin, Fofana, and Chalobah. Except for Chalobah, who was suspended, the other four were injured, some with long-term injuries. Coach Maresca was forced to use his last-choice central defensive pairing of Badiashile and Acheampong. But then, midway through the match, both also suffered injuries.

Including other positions (like Palmer), Chelsea have suffered a total of 9 injuries since the start of the season. That's a staggering number considering the season hasn't even been underway for two months.

Chelsea isn't the only team struggling with a long injury list right from the start of the season. Midweek, PSG faced Barcelona with a depleted squad, missing half of the key players who helped them dominate Europe last season. Specifically, PSG were without Dembele, Doue, Kvaratskhelia (the entire starting lineup), Neves, and Marquinhos. Not to mention Vitinha, who had only just returned from injury.

Unlike Chelsea, PSG play in Ligue 1 – a league lacking in competition, and they easily dominate even when using reserve players week after week. But PSG still couldn't withstand the wave of injuries after a busy summer.

They reached the FIFA Club World Cup final after playing all 7 matches in the tournament. And including the 2024-2025 season, PSG will have played a total of 65 matches across all competitions. The corresponding figure for Chelsea - who also reached the FIFA Club World Cup final - is only slightly less at 64 matches.

But those numbers still don't fully reflect the grueling schedule that PSG and Chelsea stars have to endure. Remember that last summer, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos, and Palmer also participated in national team tournaments like the Euro and Copa America. Before that, they also played for nine months straight with their clubs, then played in the Euro/Copa America, and then entered the club season.

Palmer was one of the players who was sidelined on many fronts - Photo: REUTERS

The stars no longer have a summer.

Typically, in odd-numbered years, star players enjoy the most relaxing time off because there are no major tournaments like the World Cup or the European Championship. But with the introduction of the FIFA Club World Cup, the concept of a "leisurely summer" is no longer relevant for these stars. This perfectly aligns with Jurgen Klopp's observation that today's football stars no longer have a single day off.

The German strategist has repeatedly criticized FIFA and UEFA for the indiscriminate increase and expansion of tournaments without regard for the health of the players. In response, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin coldly argued that players have to play more because they earn high salaries.

But that's purely an excuse. Mr. Ceferin needs to understand that, in boxing, world associations must constantly improve the rules, creating safety boundaries to ensure the lives of athletes. Even from a fan's perspective, they might prefer bloody, more violent matches. The more bloodshed, the more money. But everything has its limits.

In fact, both Acheampong and Badiashile only suffered minor injuries in Chelsea's win against Liverpool. Theoretically, they could have gritted their teeth and played the rest of the match. But manager Maresca was forced to make a humane decision: to substitute unsuitable players to keep his players within safe health limits. In that situation, Ceferin could no longer bring up the issue of salaries.

Back to the topic

HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/canh-bao-cua-klopp-lua-chon-cua-maresca-20251006082304514.htm