Phil Hay makes surprise Leeds claim as BBC reports on emerging Premier League issue
Pep Guardiola is leading calls for the Premier League to revert to using five subs amid growing injury problems in the top-flight.
The rule to allow five subs was introduced last season as a temporary measure after the season resumed following lockdown.
However, a vote to keep the rule for this season was defeated in August – by a reported 11 votes to nine.
Now, as quoted by the BBC, Pep Guardiola has rejected claims that the rule would just favour the big clubs saying, “It is not about one club. In the Premier League players have 47% more muscular injuries than the previous season, due to no preparation for most of the teams and the amount of games.
“All the leagues – Germany, Spain, everywhere – allow five substitutions to protect the players, not to protect one team.
“Hopefully they can reconsider and do what the rest of the world does because we have to adjust to the pandemic situation.”
Back in August, Times journalist Martyn Zielger claimed that Leeds had voted against the use of five subs.
However, Athletic journalist Phil Hay made a surprise claim on Saturday, saying that Leeds had actually voted for the rule change.
Surprise vote
We’re surprised by this.
Leeds voting against the use of five subs seemed to make a lot of sense. Marcelo Bielsa likes to work with a small group of players and isn’t known for making wholesale changes.
The common thinking was the use of five subs would favour the big clubs in the Premier League, with a vast amount of talent sitting on the bench.
We also thought that the use of just three subs would suit the better managers, like Bielsa.
Being able to change almost half your team on the fly seems to take away a lot of the pre-match tactics.
However, the motive could well have been the injuries that Guardiola is talking about.
Leeds have had more than their fair share of injuries already, losing Diego Llorente, Liam Cooper and Kalvin Phillips.
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