‘I don’t think anyone was thinking…’: Portsmouth boss slams football chiefs amid congestion fears
Pompey return with five games in the space of 13 days after three weeks without a game. John Mousinho sees flaws in the schedule.
John Mousinho has taken aim at the call to extend the international break to three weeks.
And the Pompey boss aired his concerns about the fixture congestion his side face when they return to action, after the pause to Championship football.
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The Blues are now at the end of the first week without a league game, ahead of their return to league action in the south-coast derby at Southampton on October 11.
Mousinho has discussed the considerations over how best to taper training and keep his players in the best condition possible.
That has meant time off this week before a return to training and building into the trip to St Mary’s Stadium, with the next two training weeks punctuated by a behind-closed-doors friendly next week.
The extended break was agreed by FIFA three years ago, though this is the first season it has been introduced with the September and October internatonal windows merged.
Pompey then return with five games over the space of 13 days over a frantic period, with Mousinho seeing concerns over the physical issues presented.
The Blues head coach feels a similar issue applies to the break itself, which he sees as flawed.
Mousinho said: ‘It’s too long and I don’t think there’s anything you can do to replicate it (games). You wouldn’t have a three-week break building up to the first game of the season.
‘So it’s going to be a really interesting challenge, but I guess everyone has to face it.
I don’t think anyone was thinking about the science of it when they designed the international break!
‘We have to think about the international break and the way the fixtures then come out, the congestion we will have after the international break and timings of fixtures.
‘Now because every mid-week game is on Sky, you can play on Wednesday and then on the Saturday at 12.30pm.
‘That doesn’t work out particularly well from a physical standpoint, but you have to be wary of the increased TV money now because the Championship is such a popular league.
‘It means everyone gets paid and we keep the lights on, so there’s a balance between the two.’