The fatigue imposed on footballers in an increasingly packed calendar has become a topic of intense debate, and one of Arsenal’s talents has raised his head above the parapet to address the issue.
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has spoken out about the issue of fatigue in football amid growing concerns over player welfare. And the Spanish star suggested that some athletes may be willing to take less weekly pay to protect their health.
The soccer schedule is packed with more games than ever before, and manager Josep Guardiola and others are scrutinizing the number of games. Fans have recently witnessed the importance of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, while the introduction of the UEFA Conference League has added a third tier of European competition to get fans and players alike excited.
But the downside is that top stars have to work even more, and many of them may already be disappointed with the lack of rest on their calendars. Merino, 29, knows the impact all too well, having played key roles for Arsenal and Spain in recent years.
And the playmaker recently explained honestly when asked if he feels wear and tear building up as he approaches 30. However, Merino didn’t let his age be a factor in his fatigue, and focused more on his approach to the game.
“Well, I’ve said it a lot lately because it’s a topic that comes up a lot,” he told La Media Inglesa. “And of course that’s something we need to talk about because it’s getting out of hand to some extent in terms of the number of games.
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“I understand that there has to be a compromise between putting on a show for the audience. That’s why so many fights are made. Because people want that show, and because it’s very lucrative from a business standpoint. But all you can do on a personal level is try to take care of yourself to be in the best shape possible.”
“I think there will come a time in the long term when this situation will change and we will somehow reach a halfway point where the players are in the best possible condition and the quality of the game is high.
“Because there comes a time when it becomes boring to watch the game, with injuries and fatigue. Because there is no rhythm, there are no chances, players get injured, the game stops often, because you have to recover from the next effort. So what’s good for the fans?”
Merino went on to emphasize his personal preparation and pride in staying healthy. However, we couldn’t escape the suggestion that in the future we may need to reduce the number of matches required to get the most entertainment value out of the game.
There was also talk that players may have to accept a pay cut for the Gunners star to reduce his workload. And the Euro 2024 winner seemed to subtly agree with the suggestion that it might be a route worth exploring.
“Well, it’s a very personal thing, isn’t it? Not everyone has the same priorities in life. Once you get used to a certain position and a certain amount of money, it’s hard to step back from that,” he said.
“But like it or not, when you think ahead about the future, having more money might not be worth it if you don’t have a knee that allows you to run with your friends, play seven-a-side, and spend time with your kids and grandkids, right? So everyone’s priorities are different, but of course it’s also a very useful way of seeing how things work in the future.”
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