Liverpool: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp became the latest Premier League manager to express his frustration at being allowed to make only three substitutions in a match. He said it is wrong when many squads are being hit hard by coronavirus cases.
England’s top division is one of the few leagues to decide against using five substitutions for matches. That measure was introduced in May 2020 to enable teams to cope better with the congested schedule when soccer resumed following a suspension due to the coronavirus, and has been retained on a permanent basis by most countries.
Clubs in England voted to revert back to three subs for last season and this season. The issue has been reignited, though, because of Covid-19 outbreaks in many squads over the past month in the wake of an increase in cases as the omicron variant spreads.
“This wonderful game is so wonderful because usually the player on the pitch is in good shape, is well trained, is well recovered and can go for it. That’s why we love the game,” Jurgen Klopp said.
“But now the situation is clear… The best league in the world and the most intense league in the world is the only league in Europe with still three subs. It’s not right,” Klopp added.
England is the only one of the major leagues in Europe to be playing matches over the festive period, with some teams in the middle of a run of three games in seven days. Many games have been postponed, though, because of Covid-19 outbreaks in squads.
Klopp has had four players — Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara and Curtis Jones — sidelined after they contracted the virus over the past two weeks. However, they are back in training and could play against Leicester on Tuesday.
“Especially in this moment, you bring players back after a Covid-19 infection or after an injury and because of the games you have to play, they have to play immediately,” Klopp pointed out.
“Then you cannot get them (off the field) after 60 minutes because you have to change others, that kind of thing. It’s a real problem,” the German coach added.
Klopp accepted things are not going to change in the Premier League, with smaller clubs feeling they are at a disadvantage compared to the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool in terms of squad depth.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel also acknowledged there is ‘zero chance’ of a return to five substitutions, but it didn’t stop him complaining as he wrestles with injury and illness problems in his squad. “We are not protecting the players because we are the only league who doesn’t have five changes,” Tuchel said.
Tuchel saw N’Golo Kante – recently back after a knee injury – and Thiago Silva sustain injuries against Villa, while Chelsea was still without forwards Kai Havertz and Timo Werner because of illness. Tuchel said he was forced to play Mateo Kovacic against Villa without any preparation after his recent return from injury and Covid-19.
“We are filling holes where we can fill them,” Tuchel said. “We are struggling. We’re pressing our players. I have maximum respect for what the players did. We do changes because of injuries. We don’t change for tactical reasons anymore,” Tuchel added.
