Four games in 10 days. The delight of the fans; The nightmare for soccer players. The Premier League is one of the most active championships during the Christmas period. While LaLiga, for example, went on vacation for more than a week, in England they have squeezed the calendar to the fullest. So much so that three days in a row have been played with just two days off. And the consequences are already here.

During December there were a total of 96 injuries in the Premier League. But if you go only to the Christmas period, between December 26 -day in which the traditional Boxing Day was celebrated- and on January 1, they have been a total of 53. That is, almost two mishaps per encounter (1, 76). Harry Kane, César Azpilicueta, Nicolas Otamendi, Xherdan Shaqiri ... The list is wide. Too.

The head of the Association of Professional Footballers of England, Bobby Barnes, has raised his voice against the Christmas marathon. And it was not the only one. Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool coach, also protested the calendar. "This is not OK. None of the coaches have problems playing Boxing Day on the 26th, but playing again two days later is a real crime, ”said the German after his victory against the Wolves (1-0). The red box, after conquering the Club World Cup and the European Super Cup, could exceed 70 games in the season if it reached the decisive qualifiers of the Champions League.

Eight casualties at Newcastle

And the complaints continue. Newcastle United is the team most hit by injuries. In total, eight players have finished in the infirmary during the last week. Among them, the Spanish Javier Manquillo, with muscular problems in the hamstrings. «The injuries come when you are forced to play soccer players who are tired. I noticed a month ago that playing four games in ten 10 was absolutely ridiculous. Here are the consequences, ”said coach Steve Bruce, very angry at the Premier.

One of the most commented injuries has been that of Harry Kane, who suffered a blow in the defeat of Tottenham with Southampton on January 1 and has broken the hamstring in his left knee. «I think we will lose him for a while. We do not know how long it will be low, but I think the news will not be good. It's my feeling for the way he left the field. It didn't take two seconds to realize the seriousness of the injury, ”said José Mourinho. The English striker will not reach the first round of the Champions League against Leipzig (February 19) and his participation in the second leg is in the air.

But there are those who have been worse off. Calum Chambers (Arsenal) and Wesley Moraes (Aston Villa) will be off for the rest of the season when the anterior cruciate ligament of their left knee is broken. Both must go through the operating room. "If your players are fatigued, the muscles and bones do not react at the same time and the danger is greater," Gary Lewin, a physiotherapist at Arsenal, told the British newspaper The Telegraph .

The Premier League must rethink itself if repeating the Christmas marathon next year. England, which last season copied the two continental finals of cluibes, knows that the health of the players is at stake.

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