Season could be done, says KDB
KEVIN de Bruyne wants an early end to the football season to avoid risking player injuries and a bigger disruption to next season’s calendar.
De Bruyne and his City team-mates are in lockdown along with other Premier League sides and many leagues across Europe, with a date of April 30 currently set to resume the season.
However, that appears to be an ambitious date, with UEFA this week suspending the Champions League and Europa League indefinitely.
Before the enforced break, City established a first-leg lead in the Champions League last-16 first-leg against Real Madrid, meaning they would suffer if that competition was delayed any further or even scrapped.
In the Premier League, it is a matter of time before City lose their title to Liverpool, but De Bruyne says there are also issues with player welfare and next season’s schedule to consider.
“I have no idea if we will still play,” De Bruyne told VTM’s ‘Stay in your Kot’ programme (via HLN), explaining how players will effectively need a new pre-season when football returns.
“Also in England they want to wait as long as possible with a decision. But as a footballer that is not evident. You are idle for six weeks, normally you need a preparation of three to four weeks.
“If we restart immediately, everyone will be injured after a few games. That cannot be the intention.”
On the controversial subject of how and when to finish the season safely, De Bruyne said he would be ‘sorry’ to see
If we restart immediately, everyone will be injured after a few games
Kevin de Bruyne
the campaign halted with City still fighting for two more trophies, but he accepted it might be unavoidable.
“But there is a lot of money involved,” he continued.
“I think waiting so long to make a decision can cause problems for next season. It is not that we have a very long summer break and can just postpone everything.
“I would be sorry to stop early after such a good season, but if it avoids problems towards next year, it must be done.”