UEFA Nations League: Southgate makes case for clubs, players

The UEFA Nations League has been ongoing since the commencement of the international break and it has not been an easy one for players who have got just a little time to rest.

England national team coach Gareth Southgate is one of those who will hit out on the Premier League for rushing to begin the league without giving necessary conditions to players who were at the Russia 2018 World Cup.

Southgate who spoke ahead of his side’s Nations League game against Spain noted that clubs are placed in an impossible situation where they have to field players who have not rested to achieve results.

According to the England boss it was wrong for the Premier League to have started on August 10; just 27 days after his side were eliminated by Belgium in the World Cup.

Citing Tottenham as an example, Southgate said many of their players reached the semi-finals of the World Cup and had no rest until the league started, pointing it as the reason why they have failed to give their best performance.

The situation becomes more difficult for players as they have to return back to their various countries for the UEFA competition without enough rest for them to have.

Southgate is the second after Liverpool manager to have made such a claim, with the German manager arguing that the Nations League should be scrapped to allow players to refresh before they return back to their various clubs.

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