Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has spoken out about the number of games players are required to play.
Marcus Rashford has been backed by the PFA after voicing his concerns over the playing demands on footballers.
He was quoted by The Mail: “It is mad that, at club level, we are playing three games a week from November until we get knocked out of Europe.
“If one team plays 60 games a season and another 38, there has to be some time to recover for the team playing 20 more.”
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A Manchester United issue until game authorities get a grip
Rashford is right to voice concerns. He played 56 club games for Manchester United, in addition to international fixtures – and missed time from injury.
This is a global football issue, and shows no sign of getting better, with UEFA set to launch an expanded Champions League from 2024/25, while a FIFA Club World Cup with 32 teams will be held in 2025. The World Cup in 2026 will feature 48 teams.
There is no sign of the game’s authorities letting up. So this becomes a problem Manchester United must attempt to mitigate.
However, there is equally no sign that the club’s owners, the Glazers, care one jot about player welfare.
Pre-season greed
Marcus Rashford’s plea for fewer games or greater recovery time are not helped by Manchester United themselves, setting up SEVEN pre-season games on a money-grabbing pre-season tour.
United will play those seven games in four different countries, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, and USA, without a single one at Old Trafford.
The four matches in the USA each take place in separate cities, from the east coast to the west.
Rashford needs help
While Rashford may not play in every single one, United’s lack of squad depth in attack may there is very little choice.
The forward did thrive with the responsibility of leading the attack last season, scoring 30 club goals, however, his form tailed off from March onwards.
This is a pinch point that savvy club owners would care about and take note of.
Manchester United’s squad needs a variety of quality forward options, so that manager Erik ten Hag has the option to rotate his squad regularly, rather than risk over-playing Rashford which will lead to an injury.
At this early stage of the transfer window, it does not seem as though United are showing the urgency required to solve the issue.
Contract talks ongoing
Marcus Rashford is reported to be close to signing a new contract, with The Sun claiming a deal is only a matter of time.
Rashford will become one the club’s best paid players, and with that, the club should have an extra incentive to protect and look after him.
Looking after Rashford is more than simply rubber-stamping a new contract and hoping for the best. It’s about building a squad around him, and providing the support, so that he is not overplayed to the point of burnout.
Owners who care, should take an interest in player welfare, with Manchester United needing a deep squad to compete all season long.
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