Premier League and Championship Clubs Adapt Training During International Break
Teams implement varied strategies, from rest periods to specialized training and friendly matches, to manage squads depleted by international call-ups.
Premier League and Championship clubs are navigating the challenges of a three-week international break by adopting diverse training approaches. With numerous players away on national duty, teams are focusing on maintaining fitness, integrating returning injured players, and preparing for subsequent fixtures.
Brentford will give their first-team players a week off, providing individual training programs before the squad reconvenes on September 26. They are scheduled to play a behind-closed-doors match on the weekend of October 3, potentially offering game time to players like Nathan Collins and Sepp van den Berg. Following this, their training will revert to a more standard schedule in preparation for their November 8 match against Brighton & Hove Albion. Liverpool, by contrast, will continue training with their remaining players, with manager Andoni Iraola anticipating only about three days to prepare for their October 11 game against Manchester City. Aston Villa has planned a unique international break, with manager Unai Emery set to return to his former club Sevilla for the 15th edition of the Antonio Puerta Trophy on October 2.
In the Championship, the impact of international call-ups is less severe for many clubs. Blackburn Rovers, for example, will have only a few players away. Manager Tony Mowbray plans to use the break to help players recover from an injury crisis that has affected the team. Following their match against Portsmouth, Rovers will have training sessions with a focus on reintegrating injured players. Mowbray also aims to arrange a behind-closed-doors friendly against a Premier League or League One team to help players returning from injury gain match fitness. During the November international break, clubs are likely to organize in-house matches involving senior and under-21 players. Mowbray intends to give players a few days off from the end of the week, allowing those like Yuri Ribeiro to travel home to Portugal if desired. The training cycle will then involve a full week of training followed by a short break over the weekend. The third week will see a return to the usual pre-match routine before their home game against Cardiff. Mowbray is also looking to find a Premier League or League One team to play in a behind-closed-doors friendly. It will help those returning from injury to get minutes in the bank, and keep other members of the squad ticking over. In the two-week break in November, players may still get a short spell off while matches are more likely to be in-house affairs with teams made up of senior and under-21 players.