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In a candid statement on Thursday, Bayern Munich's head coach, Thomas Tuchel, voiced strong concerns about the demanding fixture list, asserting that it is detrimental "not for the good of the game and not for the good of the players."
The Bundesliga giants are set to face Cologne on Friday, a mere 24 hours after key players, including Alphonso Davies of Canada and Kim Min-jae of South Korea, returned to Munich following international duty. Tuchel, while confirming the absence of injured players Jamal Musiala and Matthijs de Ligt for the upcoming match, expressed deep reservations about the physical and mental toll on his squad.
Speaking on the challenging scheduling, Tuchel highlighted the impact of television rights, stating, "It's about television rights and the TV stations can choose their teams. We were talking about it; it's the second time we play Friday away."
He pointed out the taxing journeys undertaken by returning players, saying, "Alphonso and Min-Jae are returning today from very long journeys, and it's obviously very unfortunate scheduling."
Tuchel didn't shy away from the fact that the circumstances surrounding the fixture congestion could be perceived as an excuse. However, he drew attention to similar challenges faced by other top-tier teams, citing Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, set to play against Manchester City on Saturday at 12:30.
"It's borderline, or maybe even over the line already," Tuchel remarked, underscoring the contentious nature of the fixture arrangements and their potential impact on player performance and well-being. As the debate around the strain on players in a packed schedule intensifies, Tuchel's comments add to the growing discourse on striking a balance between the demands of television schedules and player welfare.
