Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has defended international football amid criticism over call-ups of players amidst a busy domestic club calendar.
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National teams asked to rest players by clubsDe la Fuente criticised for not resting key playersFires back saying they are 'victims of the calendar'WHAT HAPPENED?
International breaks have always been linked by football fans with untimely injuries for key players due to an increase in workload. However, the same has been increasing even further with the ever-increasing number of games a player has to play during a season. As such, injuries have increased all across the board and clubs have been asking teams to rest their players to avoid injuries.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Following a busy summer with the Euros and Copa America, players have not had the rest they needed ahead of a busy season, and a load of criticism has been hurled at international team bosses, including De la Fuente, for not heeding to clubs' requests to rest players. However, the La Roja boss has defended national teams from the same critiques.
Getty WHAT DE LA FUENTE SAID
Speaking to the media ahead of Spain's Nations League clash against Switzerland, De La Fuente said: "The calendar is set by the clubs, UEFA and FIFA, not by us. We just comply with what is established. And it's curious: all the players, all of them, want to come to the national team. And all the clubs, all of them, want their players to come to the national team. I say this with full knowledge of the facts.
"We are victims of the calendar, not responsible. We should give the importance that it deserves to represent your country.
"If a player can't play two full games in September, that's all. And if I only protected those who were from a particular club, it would be very unfair. In general, this matter is quite unfair. I will put in those who I think are the best."
WHAT NEXT FOR SPAIN?
The Euros and Nations League champions have called up their strongest players for the September international break and De la Fuente is likely to field a strong line-up when La Roja take on Switzerland on September 8 at Stade de Geneve.