The president of the Spanish League said the decision not to postpone the premiere was made by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) with the support of Laliga, who organizes the competition
The president of the Spanish League, rejected the appeal of the goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, to postpone the team’s debut in the season, in order to expand the athletes’ rest time after the. The club was eliminated with a 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in Wednesday’s semifinal and will have a 41-day preseason before the Spanish championship debut against Osasuna on August 19.
Thebes said the decision not to postpone the debut was made by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) with the support of, which organizes the competition. According to the leader, the players of the club of the Spanish capital would have 20 days off and 21 days of training during the preseason.
“I believe they will have 20 days of rest instead of 21, and no other league, such as the English Championship for Chelsea or French for PSG, is changing the games,” Laliga President said in a press conference. “Therefore, I do not believe we should change the calendar for this reason, especially considering that it is a matter of one day.”
Real Madrid have played 68 official matches of the season since August 18 last year: 38 in Spanish, 14 in the Champions League, six in the King Cup and the Club World Cup, two in the Spanish Super Cup and one in the European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup. PSG will play their 65th match at the Club World Cup final on Sunday and Chelsea, the 64th. The European champion opens the season 15-17 in Nantes, while the English debut on August 17 against Crystal Palace.
“It’s always the same for La Liga,” complained Courtois on Wednesday. “The health of the players is at stake. It’s okay if they don’t like the Club World Cup, but it exists and is part of the FIFA calendar. We are competing here, and it seems that this gentleman just wants to be the focus,” said the Belgian goalkeeper.
Javier Thebes attacked Real Madrid, with whom he collected friction throughout the season, and said the club’s biggest problem is to get his own way rather than working collectively with Laliga. “They do not understand that we are a huge league and that, if we collaborate, it will be positive for all of us believe in the Superleague and, to have a strong Superleague, work for a weak national league,” he said.
*With information from Estadão Content
Posted by Nátaly Tenório
