Bruno Fernandes become the Premier League club’s most influential player soon after his transfer from sporting to Manchester United.
Players’ union FIFPro, which represents more that 65,000 footballers worldwide, released a new study on player burnout, where it was found that the Portuguese star who is also an integral part of his national team has “become one of the most ‘overused’ players in the world of football.”
Even United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted in an interview to ESPN that he maybe “overplayed” Fernandes — who featured 58 times for United as it finished second in the Premier League and reached the Europa League final last season — but insisted it was because he was “so important for us.”
In an interview with ESPN, even Ole Gunner Solskjaer who is United manager, admitted thay he might be “overplayed” Fernandes, who was featured 58 times for United as it finished second in the Premier League and then reached the final last season of Europa League, but it was because he was “so important for us.”
This season appears to be no different, and with United still competing in three competitions, combined with Fernandes’ World Cup qualifying commitments for Portugal, the 27-year-old could play in as many as 60 games.
However, this is not a problem that only Fernandes and United face.
For several years, the arduous schedule of the football calendar, as well as the physical and mental toll it takes on players, has been the subject of much debate.
It’s a problem that’s been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, as leagues around the world struggled to finish shortened seasons before launching into the next season almost immediately.
When you factor in the current international schedule, which has confederations cramming in more matches than ever before due to fixture cancellations caused by the pandemic, players at the top end of the sport are facing the most hectic schedules of their careers.
