Footballers are often thought to be the luckiest people on earth, but this is mostly not the case, and Dani Carvajal’s latest comments show the difficulties of being a football star. They train hard to stay in great shape, and when long-term injuries threaten to put an end to their career, they have to deal with it and work to regain their love for the game.
The point is, these days, the bodies in charge of these competitions and tournaments don’t often care how the kind of rigorous schedules they put footballers through is affecting them. Real Madrid’s star, Dani Carvajal, even recently suggested that their salaries be cut to ease their playing schedule.
Dani Carvajal speaks on fixture congestion
Ever wondered why clubs have long injury lists these days? It’s because they play almost every three days, and in between those tight schedules are international breaks where they get the chance to represent their respective countries.
Soccer is no longer what it used to be, as organizers have been accused of not prioritizing players’ well-being anymore, leaving these players with rigorous schedules to deal with.
For Dani Carvajal, if it’s the money involved is what’s making it hard for players to continue working with tight schedules, he has claimed he doesn’t mind taking a pay cut to get a more comfortable schedule.
“For a top player playing at a top club, the calendar is very demanding,” the Spanish international said in a news conference per ESPN ahead of Real Madrid’s UCL game with Napoli today.
“With the new Club World Cup, we won’t ever get a summer off. I agree with Carlo Ancelotti and other people who have said there are too many games. So many injuries aren’t a coincidence.
“The players are the ones who play, and it’s hard to reach an agreement between everyone. It’s complicated. But what’s a reality is that there are lots of injuries, and I think a lot of them are due to the calendar. If we had to earn less and play fewer games, it wouldn’t be a problem. You don’t see players at their best, and the games are dropping in quality; that’s the reality,” Carvajal explained.
Dani Carvajal’s sentiments can be understood as Real Madrid are without key first-team players such as Vinicius Jr, Thibaut Courtois, Arda Guler, Eduardo Camavinga, Eder Militao, Luka Modric, and Kepa Arrizabalaga all due to injuries.
Dani Carvajal wants Carlo Ancelotti to continue at Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti’s contract at Real Madrid expires at the end of the season, and it’s been largely reported that the legendary Italian coach has an agreement in place to take over the job with the Brazil national team once his contract expires next summer.
Although the manager has been tight-lipped about his future, recent reports suggest that he likes the Brazilian job, and he is convinced that it is the right project for him at this point in his career. However, this will be a huge loss for Real Madrid, who will be reluctant to let the legendary manager leave.
Dani Carvajal has also stated that he hopes Carlo Ancelotti will continue at the club for as long as the club wants. “I think Carlo Ancelotti would be there for as many years as he and the club want. There are a few coaches who can do it better than Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid,” the Spanish defender said.
Despite the links, Ancelotti is reportedly ready to sign a new contract at the club. However, if he ends up leaving, Real Madrid already have a potential replacement in Xabi Alonso, who has been working wonders at Bayern Leverkusen this season.
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