The 2024/25 edition of the Champions League coincides with the introduction of the new “league phase” format for the very first time. This change expands the number of games teams participating in the competition will play before the round of 16 from six to eight. This shift provides a recent example of an increase in the amount of fixtures teams have to play, but there are plenty more to choose from.
Bayern Munich is included as one of the teams set to participate in the new format for the Club World Cup, which will see a host of top teams from nations worldwide compete for intercontinental glory. The tournament is intended to take place every four years, with the 2025 edition occurring from June 15th to July 13th. With the latter round of the Nation League planned to happen around June as well (not to mention the Gold Cup directly overlapping with the Club World Cup), the concern of fixture congestion rears its ugly head once more.
Not only does fixture congestion increase the risk of a player picking up an injury, but recent comments from Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva have shed light on how difficult it can be for players to spend time with their friends and family as their sporting demands increase.
There is, however, at least one player who’s looking at the issue of fixture congestion differently. Newly minted Germany captain Joshua Kimmich was recently asked if he’d prefer to play in the Nations League or Club World Cup come next summer and was captured (via @iMiaSanMia) giving the response that, “[He] would like to play both.” Kimmich continued, stating, “In general, I’m a fan of playing many games. When it comes to the Nations League, people always say it’s an ‘artificial’ competition. Personally, I would rather play the Nations League and compete for a trophy than play in any kind of friendly games.”
Kimmich’s comments show the player’s impressive mentality, but is anyone really surprised here? If Kimmich has an opportunity to win something, anything, he’s going to take it.
