Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah on the inflated season: “If we play so many games, we will also get more and more injuries”

Speaking at Bayer Leverkusen’s pre-match press conference ahead of their Champions League tie against AC Milan, central defender Jonathan Tah has commented on the inflated football season.

In recent weeks, players have voiced their criticisms and support of the increased amount of games due to the new formats of the Club World Cup and Champions League. Tah revealed his stance on the matter:

“I can only agree, if I said that I like training more than games, because I will always enjoy that more than training. It has to be limited at some point.”

The defender, who was a prominent feature for Leverkusen and Germany last season and at the beginning of this season then added: 

“We have to see, How much can we still manage to maintain this level of performance with so many games? If we play so many games, we will also get more and more injuries. It is an issue that we cannot ignore. Nevertheless, I love being on the pitch and playing.”

Tah played 48 times for Leverkusen last season on top of 12 appearances for Germany which even included a trip to the US in October. 

Bundesliga clubs are less affected by the change in the amount of games being played this year but clubs like Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich will be effected by this change.

If both reach the finals of every competition they are competing in they will play a total of 59-60 games depending if they have to go through the Champions League playoff round. On top of this, the players will also be participating for their national sides as well, which for some will involved increased travel as well. 

GGFN | Jack Meenan