Carlo Ancelotti, the newly appointed Brazil coach, has stated that the increasingly dense football calendar not only increases the risk of player injuries but also contributes to a decline in the quality of the spectacle. He made these remarks via video during the `Passione in campo` event organized by Aic and Aiac in Reggio Emilia.
“This year`s calendar has been very demanding, especially for teams with numerous commitments and many players in national teams,” Ancelotti commented. “Consider the new Champions League format and the Club World Cup, which is scheduled during the period when top players would normally be on vacation. This situation doesn`t just heighten the risk of injury; it also, and few people seem to grasp this, degrades the spectacle because players lack the necessary time to recover and train. Consequently, they cannot perform at 100% in every match, especially the elite players.”
He added that the work of coaches is also impacted. Ancelotti explained that match preparation increasingly relies on video analysis rather than on-field training, a lack of practical work that further contributes to the decline in spectacle.
Some might argue that players also faced busy schedules in the past, but they overlook the significant increase in game intensity. Compared to a decade ago, players now make far more sprints during a match, a factor that contributes to muscle injuries.
Ancelotti`s approach to mitigating player stress, where feasible, is to grant them a rest day. “After matches, players usually do light recovery work,” he said, “but perhaps a player recovers more effectively by staying home with their family than by coming in for low-intensity activities like swimming or cycling.” While ideally this might apply more to those who played the full match, Ancelotti believes creating disparities should be avoided, so he feels a day at home benefits everyone.
Ultimately, Ancelotti asserted, the burden of an excessively crowded calendar falls on the players and coaches, who “have no decision-making power whatsoever. The crucial decisions are made by entities like FIFA, UEFA, Leagues, and Federations. Unless these bodies reach an agreement, it`s impossible to establish a calendar that truly protects both the quality of the sport`s spectacle and the well-being of the players.”