Kieran Maguire: FSG ‘don’t care’ about Liverpool stars after behind-the-scenes reveal
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group will not lobby to reduce the number of games in the football calendar because to do so would take money out of their pocket.
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the Merseysiders’ relentless 2021-22 campaign.
Liverpool played 63 games in all competitions as they went the distance in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.
Stars like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane played upwards of 70 games with international duty factored in.
As relayed by The Guardian last Thursday (26 May), a Fifpro survey revealed that 55 per cent of their 1055-player sample size had suffered a fatigue-related injury.
The data also found that only 32 per cent had the recommended four-week break between seasons, and that the crowded schedule has had an adverse effect on mental health.
But Liverpool will only fight to reduce the number of games they play if it doesn’t come at their financial expense, insists Maguire.
“I think we are only going to see more of the same in the future,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“Club owners like FSG don’t care about player welfare, or at least they are only interested if players are injured.
“Liverpool do have the very best sport science stuff at the club. That has been reflected in the way players were rotated throughout the season. They were monitored to such a high degree.
“But as far as owners are concerned, they just want to sweat the assets as much as they can. There is effectively a trade-off between club owners and the football people at the club.
“That was front and centre of the Super League and Project Big Picture proposals.”
In other news, “devastating” Liverpool claim issued as pundit “baffled” by new Sadio Mane twist.