Enzo’s fatigue an example of too many international breaks – Talk Chelsea

It’s high time that the big bosses in football take a long hard look at the scheduling of international breaks during a domestic season, because they are doing much more harm than good.

The Premier League, sponsors, and TV bosses want to see exciting, fast, and entertaining games week in week out, of course they do – it makes them a lot of money. So why on earth they are allowing these consistent international breaks during a domestic season come so regularly right now is beyond me.

For players who have to travel around the world and go into opposite time zones, it’s a dangerous occurrence to be happening so regularly. And that right there, is the reason I am concerned about Newcastle United on Saturday.

So as you can see, it isn’t just because international breaks are so bland and boring that makes me absolutely detest them, and the fact that Gareth Southgate is managing my national team, it’s also because I think they are dangerous to players when they happen so often like they have been in the last few months. It’s absurd. It’s actually lucky we aren’t in Europe as well this season.

I worry for the fitness and condition of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in particular, due to the long traveling hours and time zone differences. And that’s why I fear for the Newcastle game a bit, because these two are hugely important players for us.

Don’t get me wrong, I am confident we can beat them and I actually have a much better feeling on this game than I did before the Manchester City game. And also, Newcastle are hit massively with injuries at current so it’s a good time to play them.

But it frustrates me that Chelsea are in a place now where our own injuries are reducing and getting better, and now we have to face having these international breaks like every four weeks across the last handful of months.

Luckily, other than AFCON in January, the next big international break is in March – so we do get a rest bite now.

But this seriously needs to be looked at because whilst I understand that these games need to be played for the big summer tournaments, surely there is a better way than to be having them so often throughout a domestic season causing further injuries and fatigue, and disrupting domestic club’s seasons?

It doesn’t help me right now because I just don’t enjoy watching my nation play at all. But putting all of that aside, I just think that player welfare should be taken into account more with this.

But then am I even surprised it isn’t? Not at all. Football is a business for most and has been that way for many years. It’s all about money making for so many involved in this game now, and that will always be the reason why the players are made to play so many games.

Enzo needs a rest for a game or two in my opinion. But he’s so important to this team that Mauricio Pochettino finds it almost impossible to rest him. That’s a sticky situation for us. He’s burned out from last season and from all of this long-haul traveling to play more games in different time zones, then a day or two after he lands back in London, plays again. Same for Caicedo. Enzo isn’t just physically tired though, he’s mentally tired and that’s worse.

Even the European players will feel it despite not having to travel as far. It will catch up on them all.

I am so thankful that I don’t have to moan about another international break now until March! Bring on Saturday, bring my Chelsea back!!