LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 06: (SUN OUT, SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of England looks on during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage on April 06, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) (Image: Liverpool FC, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Thomas Tuchel has stated that Liverpool and Arsenal could enjoy a "huge advantage" in the forthcoming Premier League title race due to fixture and fatigue factors.
According to the England manager, Manchester City and Chelsea are likely to face a "huge impact" as a result of exhaustion and demanding schedules following their participation in the Club World Cup.
While reigning champions Liverpool look set for a complete summer break, Arsenal will also take time to rest; conversely, City and Chelsea aren’t expected to get any respite.
Despite the clubs' busy schedule, the Premier League has confirmed it won't adapt its fixture agenda to accommodate those competing in the Club World Cup slated to take place in the United States this summer, culminating with the final scheduled for July 13 in New York—a period when most English teams commence pre-season training.
Tuchel is quoted expressing his view on the predicament, saying during his international press conference this week: "I think it will have a huge impact and it will give Liverpool and Arsenal a huge advantage in the next season to not be there."
He further acknowledged a silver lining for players participating in the tournament for the first time, describing it as "I think it will be a very nice experience for the players who are there to play this tournament for the first time so there are mixed feelings about it.
Not one to dwell on worry, Tuchel added: "I decided not to worry too much because why should I? It is a given and no one knows what will be the outcome of it or the effect.
"We will deal with the effect when the effect comes and let's see. We have a lot of teams in the Champions League next season and European football and let's see."
It is understood that post an international friendly against Senegal on Tuesday, the City and Chelsea representatives in the England ranks will be flying out to the US for the club competition.
There will be no respite for the squad after a gruelling season, yet Tuchel has made it clear that his England internationals are all eager to compete against Senegal.
Regarding the players' drive, Tuchel revealed: "There is not one player who says: 'By the way, I would like to be on the bench and save myself for the Club World Cup' so they are hungry to play."
He emphasised the strain on the squad with his comments, "The games are not the problem, it is just the amount of time that it occupies from the players and they need a proper rest somewhere in this calendar which they hardly get."
Tuchel expressed understanding towards clubs' worries about the intensity of the schedule, noting: "I think the clubs are concerned and I get that for the Club World Cup and after a long season. I think the players feel it and some of them feel tired."
He also commented upon a curious phenomenon among players with regards to fatigue: "Some of them feel the tiredness more after one or two weeks of holiday than they felt it straight after the season so sometimes it is easier to stay in a rhythm."