Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta said the number of games being added to the schedule ahead of next month’s World Cup is “crazy” and that player’s welfare is being put at risk.
Azpilicueta’s teammate N’Golo Kante has been ruled out of the World Cup after operating on a hamstring injury, while Reece James is in the running to be fit for the tournament after suffering a knee injury.
Chelsea have three league fixtures, two Champions League games and a League Cup tie ahead of the World Cup starting 20 November in Qatar.
“It’s difficult and it’s sad because as players you want to go to the World Cup, but we have this schedule where we have to play for our club and do our best,” Azpilicueta told reporters on Monday. “
“We are fighting a lot for player welfare because the schedule is crazy. Sometimes we have to consider everything and I think we are in talks with FIFA. It’s difficult because I understand fan football want to see.
“We have five subscriptions now, but we have some injuries in our team, which makes it more difficult to rotate. We are playing every few days, but it is like that and we have to move on.”
Azpilicueta is expected to feature in Spain’s squad for the World Cup, where they are placed in Group E along with Germany, Costa Rica and Japan. They will begin their group campaign against Costa Rica on 23 November. ,Reuters