Spain face Germany in the two legs of the women’s Nations League this international break.
But it has been announced that Aitana Bonmati has been playing through an injury.
This comes as no surprise, given the limited players' disposable means, that one player is getting injured because they are not being appropriately rested and not getting the recovery they need between games. Barcelona have access to only two before they cannot rotate easily, with only 17 registered first-team players and others out with injuries that cannot be played with.
This means more players are playing multiple games a week and therefore not resting. All these events increase the risk of injury to players.
Plus, given their small squad size, players like Bonmati are being asked or playing through injuries.
While commendable, it could cause more harm than good in the long term if the injury is not fully recovered.
She said, “For the past month, I’ve had discomfort in the tendon of my left hamstring, which has kept me from being at 100%. The injuries don’t stop you from playing, but you don’t play comfortably.”
To make things worse, Spain cannot bench their best star over the international break as they face Germany in the hope of retaining their Nations League title.
This news comes days after the WSL announced that the League Cup from next season will not include Champions League sides to manage player loads and prevent further injuries.
With Patri Guijarro, a key player alongside Bonmati in Barcelona's midfield, and Salam Paralluelo out with injuries, they do not have the capacity to rotate, as they have no depth due to the club's ongoing financial issues stemming from the debt incurred from redoing Camp Nou. Plus years of mismanagement and exorbitant spending on player wages and transfers on the men’s side.
This impacts the women’s side, as their debt exceeds one million euros, and, under financial fair play in La Liga, all regulations apply to the entire club.
This means the women's team's success and high revenue cannot be fully reinvested in their own section if the men's team's finances exceed the overall limit.
The Women's team, despite being one of the best and most self-sufficient in the world (generating the highest revenue in women's football in Europe), is forced to cut costs and manage a smaller budget to compensate for the men's team's financial issues.
This is something Barcelona need to address. No player should play with discomfort.
Hopefully, the club will listen to players regarding their well-being and ensure they can rest.
Add comment
Comments