sports
Running on empty? Premier League teams falter under weight of endless schedule
Players are not covering the distances of old – they are not being lazy but adapting to demands of an arduous campaign
TL;DR
- Honest endeavor and hard work are traditionally valued in English football.
- Recent observations show some Premier League teams, like Chelsea and Liverpool, running less than their opponents.
- This has led to accusations of players being lazy or lacking passion, but the metric of distance run alone is largely meaningless.
- Effective tactics, good organization, and a tight structure can mean players run less because they cover shorter distances between each other.
- Running excessively without tactical purpose can be a sign of tactical collapse, especially in modern football where fatigue is a significant factor.
- The elite clubs' demand for more games to increase revenue leads to more injuries and exhaustion, as squads are not deepened enough to cope.
- Premier League sides often look exhausted in later stages of competitions due to the league's depth and intensity, where every game is a battle.
- Maintaining freshness is crucial, and managers who favor control and efficiency can lead to lower running stats, sometimes coinciding with fewer injuries.
- Low running stats are not always an indicator of underperformance or laziness; they can be a reflection of a team's style of play, such as conserving energy with the ball.