Fixture toll on players becoming ‘dangerous’ – Postecoglou

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou says the expanding football schedule is reaching a “dangerous level” and must be addressed.

Spurs host Qarabag of Azerbaijan on Thursday in the first of eight games in the league phase of the newly expanded Europa League.

Teams could have to play up to 16 matches to reach the final in Bilbao on 21 May 2025.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri suggested last week that players could strike over fixture congestion, with his comments made just days before he suffered a serious knee injury.

“I’ve spoken before that I think we’re getting to a dangerous level of what our expectations are around players,” said Postecoglou on Wednesday.

“They don’t get a break between seasons any more.

“It’s going to get to a point where we’re not going to have the best players out here playing and even worse probably breaking down for various reasons.”

As their European campaign continues, Spurs will travel to Hungary to face Ferencvaros (3 October), then host AZ Alkmaar (24 October) and play Galatasaray away (7 November).

They play Roma at home (28 November) and Rangers in Glasgow (12 December), then go to Hoffenheim (23 January) before hosting Elfsborg (30 January) in the league phase.

The game this week is the third between Spurs and Qarabag in major European competition, with Spurs winning both previous meetings in the 2015-16 group stage of the Europa League (3-1 & 1-0)