Football News: Lewandowski Expresses Concerns Over Fixture Congestion Ahead of 2024-25 Season

Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski has voiced his concerns over the increasing number of football matches being played, stating that the hectic schedule is taking a toll on the quality of the game.

Challenges of the Upcoming Season

In an interview with ESPN, the Polish international acknowledged the challenges posed by the upcoming 2024-25 season, which will see more games in the UEFA Champions League, as well as the commitments with their respective national teams.

“This season is going to be more tough than before because we have more games in the Champions League … there are the games with the club but also the national team, so we travel a lot,” Lewandowski said. “It’s almost impossible to stay on top of your game, every game, because you don’t have time for resting well, you don’t have time to be outside of football in your mind … We are human, we are not machines.”

Potential Decline in Match Quality

The 35-year-old striker expressed his belief that the intense fixture congestion could lead to a decline in the overall quality of football matches.

“Probably in the end, the quality of the games of football will a little bit be going down because of the intensity of the games,” he added.

Teammate’s Concerns and Potential Solutions

Lewandowski’s teammate, goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, echoed the concerns, although he acknowledged that new signings could help alleviate the burden on the squad.

“If there are reinforcements later, of course they’ll be welcome, but for now we’ve already shown that we can compete with anyone,” the German international told ESPN.

Barcelona is set to face Real Madrid in a preseason friendly match in New Jersey on Saturday as the teams continue their preparations for the highly anticipated Euro 2024, UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, and Women’s World Cup competitions on the horizon.

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