Simeone points to fixture congestion and player workload as reasons football may soon allow a sixth substitution per match.
Atlético Madrid defeated Espanyol away from home. Diego Pablo Simeone congratulated his players on a particularly important victory. He believes that, sooner rather than later, football will move towards allowing managers to make even more substitutions. The congested calendar is largely responsible for this potential change.
Atlético Madrid maintained their positive form in LaLiga by defeating Espanyol 1-0 away from home, thanks to a goal from Álex Baena. Diego Pablo Simeone analyzed the match at his post-game press conference and opened a debate about the possibility of giving managers more substitutions. It is not a taboo subject among the key authorities responsible for determining the rules of the sport.
It all began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Football was suspended for several months, and the 2019-20 season had to be completed in a matter of weeks. To accommodate the congested schedule, a temporary rule was introduced, allowing teams to make five substitutions per match instead of three. The change was subsequently made permanent, and football has not returned to the previous limit. Now, several years later, Diego Simeone believes it is time to introduce a sixth substitution.
“We are moving towards a solution that would allow one more substitution. There are too many matches for a footballer. Travelling as well... I have no doubt that there will be another substitution because people come to watch a spectacle that they cannot fully enjoy due to the workload and number of minutes players have to play,” Simeone said at the press conference following the victory over Espanyol. He understands that the fixture calendar and the sheer number of matches make additional substitutions necessary.
Football has changed significantly since 2020. Competitions such as the UEFA Champions League have increased the number of matches played each season. Other tournaments, including the Nations League and the World Cup, have also undergone changes that place greater physical demands on players throughout the campaign.
Allowing coaches to make more substitutions would help reduce the risk of serious injuries within their squads. Simeone believes this is a natural development and that the proposal will soon become a serious topic of discussion.
After raising the issue, the Argentine manager praised his players for a victory that keeps Atlético Madrid second in LaLiga standings with 22 points. They remain five points behind Barcelona, who maintained their perfect record with a win over Real Betis. Atlético Madrid's next challenge will be an away match against Stuttgart on matchday three of the UEFA Champions League.
