Stay of execution? Outstanding Evans stands tall for Ten Hag

Follow GOAL's WhatsApp channel now!

Madueke earns disappointing draw as Jackson struggles

Sublime Saka rips Saints apart to get Gunners out of jail

Van Dijk colossal as Liverpool march on at Palace

Faultless record sees Wrexham hit 49-year high for Rob & Ryan

Man Utd fans RAGE at INEOS for 'dragging out' Ten Hag sacking

Man Utd fans erupt as De Gea saves TWO penalties for Fiorentina

Pulisic goal glut sees USMNT star post 34-year first

Under-fire Ten Hag confirms imminent talks with INEOS

‘Out of league for a season or two’ – City make ‘brave’ call

The reason Barca dropped Kounde vs Alaves as 'punishment' revealed

Real Madrid issue injury updates on Vini Jr and Carvajal

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>National teams asked to rest players by clubs</li><li>De la Fuente criticised for not resting key players</li><li>Fires back saying they are 'victims of the calendar'</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

'We are victims' - Spain boss Luis de la Fuente issues passionate defence of international football amid pressure from clubs to rest key players

UEFA Nations League A

Spain

Denmark

International breaks have always been linked by football fans with untimely injuries for key players due to an increase in workload. However, the same has been increasing even further with the ever-increasing number of games a player has to play during a season. As such, injuries have increased all across the board and clubs have been asking teams to rest their players to avoid injuries.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Following a busy summer with the Euros and Copa America, players have not had the rest they needed ahead of a busy season, and a load of criticism has been hurled at international team bosses, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/spain-luis-de-la-fuente-risks-barcelona-lamine-yamal-game-time/blta59b3cd2f3557a83#cseb3aa494e43e2d1c" target="_blank">including De la Fuente, for not heeding to clubs' requests</a> to rest players. However, the La Roja boss has defended national teams from the same critiques.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Speaking to the media ahead of Spain's Nations League clash against Switzerland, De La Fuente said: "The calendar is set by the clubs, UEFA and FIFA, not by us. We just comply with what is established. And it's curious: all the players, all of them, want to come to the national team. And all the clubs, all of them, want their players to come to the national team. I say this with full knowledge of the facts."We are victims of the calendar, not responsible. We should give the importance that it deserves to represent your country."If a player can't play two full games in September, that's all. And if I only protected those who were from a particular club, it would be very unfair. In general, this matter is quite unfair. I will put in those who I think are the best."

WHAT DE LA FUENTE SAID

The Euros and Nations League champions have called up their strongest players for the September international break and De la Fuente is likely to field a strong line-up when La Roja take on Switzerland on September 8 at Stade de Geneve.

WHAT NEXT FOR SPAIN?

'We are victims' - Spain boss Luis de la Fuente issues passionate defence of international football amid pressure from clubs to rest key players | Goal.com English Bahrain

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has defended international football amid criticism over call-ups of players amidst a busy domestic club calendar.

&apos;We are victims&apos; - Spain boss Luis de la Fuente issues passionate defence of international football amid pressure from clubs to rest key players