Stanislav Lobotka criticizes relentless football schedule

Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka has spoken out against the demanding nature of the modern football calendar. The player highlighted that the constant travel, varying climates, and relentless sequence of matches are pushing human bodies to their limits.

I played four matches in 17 days, one of them against the Faroe Islands on a different playing surface, as well as in a different climate. Even though I am paid very well to play, I am still a human being. I feel the physical fatigue and then also that of the flights. Even if I only play an hour, that physical exertion is still significant. Stanislav Lobotka

Lobotka argued that the perception of international breaks as a rest period is flawed, noting that players return to an immediate run of games for their clubs. He pointed out that teams like the Slovakia national team do not have the depth to rotate 40-50 players, making the high-frequency schedule particularly difficult to manage.

They can pay you whatever they want, but the stress is yours, on your body. Just look at how many footballers are injured. There is very little you can do, you just have to hope to stay healthy all the time and not get injured. Stanislav Lobotka