Club World Cup has left an injury trail that is damaging football. But will anyone listen? | Jacob Steinberg

The article discusses the Club World Cup and its impact on the fitness and well-being of top players. It highlights the cases of Cole Palmer and Ousmane Dembélé, who appeared to be struggling with fitness issues after participating in the tournament. The article notes that the response to the strained schedule has been to add more football, rather than addressing the underlying problem. Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, is quoted as criticizing the expansion of the Club World Cup, citing concerns over the long-term impact on players' recovery and the potential for them to have nothing left to give at the upcoming World Cup. The article suggests that the concerns raised about the negative impact of the Club World Cup on player fitness were foreseeable, and that the problem is not being adequately addressed by the football authorities. The article concludes by questioning whether anyone will listen to these concerns and take action to address the issue.