Premier League Project Restart: The Survival of the Fittest When We Return June 20
The Premier League boasts some of the best tactical managers in the history of football. It will be how these beautiful football minds handle the task of preventing injuries that will be more important than tactics on the field.
There is absolutely no escape from the injury bug in football. The nature of the modern game of pressing and possession is a potentially toxic recipe for soft tissue injuries, especially after a lengthy quarantine disconnected from facilities and staff.
As Newcastle manager, Steve Bruce, and Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling have suggested, it is believed that players will need at least four to six weeks of training before returning to competitive matches.
It is becoming unlikely that Project Restart will allow for that much time. With that said, managers and backroom staff will need to plan for a quick rev up to weeks of fixture congestion, which will lead to high injury risk. In other words, training and recovery tactics will be more critical than on-field tactics.
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It is hard to quantify which teams have an advantage or disadvantage in this department. It can be theorized that the bigger clubs with better facilities and larger numbers of backroom staff will be at an advantage. So here, the big six may be in the best position.
This means clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, and Spurs are in better positions in the race for European qualifying than Sheffield and Wolves.
Which Teams are in the Best Position Currently in Regards to Injury Issues?
That is hard to say as clubs are often pretty tight-lipped when talking about who is in their training room and for good reason.
According to Premierinjuries.com, there are five teams “reporting” four or more injured players: Bournemouth, Burnley, Man United, Newcastle, and Watford. There are three clubs, “reporting” no injuries. Crystal Palace, Manchester City, and Sheffield.
If these reports are true, the fitness advantage for European slots will go to the Blades. Chelsea, Tottenham, and the Gunners have two players listed each on the injury list.
Intriguingly, the clubs reporting the most injury issues are also in the relegation battle, suggesting the squad that gets and stays healthy (especially after a long break) will have a leg up on the competition.
The possibility of players spending more time being treated in the physio room than on the field brings up probably the most critical factor of all.