SEVILLE — England coach Gareth Southgate has said the Premier League’s decision to start the domestic season so soon after the World Cup left managers in an “impossible” position.
The Premier League campaign kicked off on Aug. 10, less than a month after the World Cup final between France and Croatia in Russia.
With England and Belgium facing each other in the third-place playoff, many players had to return to competitive action without completing a proper preseason.
Southgate said he felt that was why there had been a lack of freshness in many Premier League and the England team this season.
“I think it’s psychological freshness rather than physical,” the England coach told a news conference ahead of Monday’s UEFA Nations League game against Spain in Seville.
“Everyone adapts their training load appropriately. But when you see the league, a lot of teams have not started yet at the level they would be at when they’re at their maximum. There are lots of injuries, certainly in our league.
“I don’t understand why our league started so early, but they did and it’s a really difficult situation for the clubs. Some couldn’t field a team.
“Look at Tottenham — they had so many players in the World Cup semifinals, yet they had to put players straight into matches. It’s an impossible situation for the coaches, really.”
England striker Harry Kane won the Golden Boot at the World Cup but is now without a goal in six internationals.
“I have absolute confidence [in Kane],” Southgate said. “The concern would be if we aren’t creating chances. The most important thing is to be dangerous.
“The players we have got, if we create those chances they will score them.”
Kane said he was not worried by his recent lack of goals, adding: “It’s been tough after the World Cup, not getting much rest, but I think I’ve dealt with it well.
“I’ve stayed fit and stayed healthy. That was my main priority at the start of the season. Now it’s building on that and pushing forward over the winter.
“I set a standard for myself and I want to reach that standard every game I play. I don’t think my game has dipped.
“I’d like to have scored more for England recently but, as a striker, you go through spells where maybe it goes off the bar, whereas other times it comes off your heel and goes in the back of the net like in the World Cup.”
England must beat a Spain side they lost to at Wembley last month to remain in with a chance of reaching the UEFA Nations League final four, while a point for Spain would confirm them as group winners.