Jurgen Klopp has raised concerns about the increasing number of competitive matches added to the soccer calendar, arguing that this has aggravated the fixture congestion problem, which many believe threatens player welfare.
In a recent interview with CBS Sports, Klopp pointed out various competitions, starting with the modified Club World Cup held in the U.S. last summer. This tournament expanded from eight teams to 32, causing frustration among coaches like Klopp who are grappling with player exhaustion.
“The physical part is really, really tough for the players,” Klopp stated. “Paris [Saint-Germain] had a few injuries; Chelsea has now injuries, too many. Let me see, who was in the Club World Cup final? Ah, Chelsea against Paris! Surprise! It’s just too much…”
“…I’m not a witch. I just tell you from all my experience, we cannot do it like that constantly.”
Klopp effectively boycotted the Club World Cup this past summer, admitting, “I survived easily without watching one game.” He also did not tune into Red Bull Salzburg’s matches during the tournament, even after the team fell under his oversight when he joined the energy drink company in January.
The former Liverpool manager expressed frustration regarding a recent proposal by CONMEBOL to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, a move not currently considered by FIFA.
He criticized the saturated schedule, saying, “Is that from April to August or what type of tournament is that? They cannot get enough, and that’s not great.”
Klopp traced the issues back to the UEFA Nations League, which began in September 2018, merging international breaks with competitive fixtures instead of friendly matches.
He stated that top players can’t be rotated adequately during international breaks due to the Nations League’s rules, which adds pressure on elite players and national managers.
“In Germany, I’m not sure you say it here – I was angry when they started the [UEFA] Nations League,” he reflected. “Now, no friendly games anymore?”
“Just stop it.”
Klopp’s remarks highlight a growing concern in modern soccer, echoing similar criticisms from figures like Thierry Henry, who recently called for a dialogue with players about fixture congestion.
