Leipzig (Germany) (AFP)

International footballers also involved in the European Cup with their clubs are "at the limit of their workload", believes the captain of the German team Manuel Neuer, supported by his coach Joachim Löw.

"We had never experienced a season like this and I hope we will not experience it again," said the Bayern Munich goalkeeper, 34 years old and professional since 2006, in an interview Tuesday at the site Sportbuzzer.

Löw, questioned Tuesday on the cascade of injuries, for his part again criticized the hellish rates of post-confinement football.

"That is to be expected," he said, "and we have only played two months this season. The problems are going to get worse. If we coaches are not reasonable we are going to have a huge problem next year, "he warned.

"There is a reason, if the players are injured now. Already in September we saw it coming. I hope that those responsible for the calendars will reflect," added Löw, of whom a dozen executives are absent for the international gathering of November, and who will field a B team on Wednesday in a friendly against the Czech Republic.

The weekly rhythm of the European meetings, which alternate with the championship matches of the weekend, no longer leaves the necessary time to prepare, deplores Neuer: "Certain exercises in training are simply impossible at the moment. After the matches , we do some recovery, then a little tactics, the last gallop the day before the match, and we must already replay ".

"We no longer do small tournaments, mini-matches, or the work of duels at all," continues the doorman, left to rest for a few days before joining his national team on Thursday for two League of Nations matches on Saturday against the 'Ukraine and next Tuesday against Spain.

The "UEFA goalkeeper of the year", however, wants to be positive: "We footballers should not complain, even if we are reaching the limit of our workload. Unlike many others, we have the right to play and we are very happy about that. Just look at amateur sport or the situation in other sports, "which are at a standstill because of the pandemic.

© 2020 AFP