PFA chief uses Manchester City example to agree with Jurgen Klopp over issue 'killing' football

Professional Footballers' Association boss Maheta Molango has warned that football's hectic schedule is "killing the product" as well as causing worry for player welfare.

And the 41-year-old PFA CEO cited Kevin De Bruyne's injury during the first half of Manchester City's 2023 Champions League final win as an example. England Women boss Sarina Wiegman also recently raised concerns, telling those in charge they need to find a better balance to give players enough rest time.

Talking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit (as per the BBC), Molango said: "(De Bruyne going off) is surely not what we want to see. The Champions League final is supposed to be our Super Bowl. It wasn't because one of the best players in the world, De Bruyne, was out in the 30th minute; (Erling) Haaland was exhausted; Rodri, who is a top athlete, said after 60 minutes he had cramps. For us, we've reached a stage where it is not just about the health of the player, it is about us killing the product."

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Concerns about welfare were recently echoed by Jurgen Klopp, who offered up "running out of energy" as one of the reasons why he has decided to step down at the end of this season. The Liverpool boss has previously expressed worry on numerous occasions about his team playing too many games, resulting in a pile-up of injuries. The Reds were forced to field several youth players during their 1-0 Carabao Cup victory over Chelsea on Sunday thanks bit a senior player injury list that now runs into doubles figures.

Molango doesn't like FIFA's plan to make the Club World Cup bigger in