Tired! Real Madrid set a record with 67 games this season, and players from multiple teams have played over 4,000 minutes in the Club World Cup

Leisu Sports, July 3rd: The Club World Cup match between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund is about to kick off, and this will be Real Madrid's 67th game of the season, setting a new record for the number of games played by Real Madrid in a single season. Among them, the playing time of players like Valverde has exceeded 5,400 minutes, and their physical fitness is also approaching its limit.

The Club World Cup has now reached the quarter-finals stage. For all the teams, even in the most ideal situation, they still have to compete for another week. The physical condition of many teams has reached a limit. Not only European teams, but also the two Brazilian teams that made it to the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup are in the same situation. They have played over 70 domestic league, regional and international matches in a year. For them, it is currently the middle of the season, and when the crucial matches of the Copa Libertadores of the year arrive, their physical condition will also reach a limit.

For Real Madrid, at least seven players have played more than 4,000 minutes this season. In addition to the aforementioned Valverde, there are also Chouameni, Bellingham, Courtois, Mbappe, Vinicius and Rudiger. Among Paris Saint-Germain's players, Paco, Achraf, Vitinha and Joao Neves have also played for more than 4,000 minutes. Bayern Munich has Kimmich who has reached this standard. Dortmund's Girasi, Chelsea's Caicedo and Kukurella have all reached 4,000 minutes.

For many European teams, they are confronted with a major contradiction: they have to deal with the current competition while also considering the situation at the end of the season and its impact on the next season. Physical trainer and expert Pablo Rios analyzed: "Controlling the load through gradual low-intensity training and rationally allocating playing time in a team with a deep and strong lineup are the keys to playing well and avoiding injuries. This enables players to gradually adapt to high-intensity training in one game after another without being troubled by injuries."

According to Mundo Deportivo, the problem is not the event itself, but that players now have almost no real summer vacation. A physical load report from the International Federation of Professional Footballers indicates that Pedri, of the same age group, has made 25% more appearances than Xavi. Rios explained: "Due to the dense schedule of matches, teams are building more competitive lineups to distribute energy more reasonably among players and ensure they maintain the best physical condition during crucial stages." "