James Milner is convinced Liverpool will be challenging for honours again next season – as he called on the authorities to address the “ridiculous” workload hampering chances of success. Milner is poised to make his 332nd and final appearance of a hugely successful eight-year stay when the Reds close their Premier League campaign at relegated Southampton on Sunday. A disappointing season has seen Jurgen Klopp’s side, struck by injuries and losses of form, finish fifth to miss out on Champions League qualification for the first time in seven years. But Milner – who will depart on a free transfer having claimed six honours at the club – is adamant he is leaving a Liverpool squad with the potential to rediscover the threat of previous campaigns.
James Milner said: “Yes, no doubt about that. Look at the players now – the younger players, the manager and what he’s achieved before and what he’s achieved here. And also the club and how well it’s supported, the winning mentality and experience in the dressing room. That’s always the biggest one. They’ve won trophies together. This year has been tough, obviously. The amount of injuries we’ve had. I think it must be the worst season for injuries on record, so I think that’s not helped. Whether that and going for everything last year, the World Cup break or a bit of bad luck and maybe not dealing with those situations as well as we could have done have contributed to this season. But you can see the form over the last few weeks, the fight in the dressing room and the run of results. I know we couldn’t quite get the job done (qualifying for Champions League) but you can see Trent’s new role giving him the option of a new way of playing. Obviously with good players and the manager we have then every chance Liverpool will be flying again next season.”
Milner has dismissed any suggestion the Reds have lost their appetite for success during the past 12 months, and instead focused on the relentless demands of the fixture calendar. By Sunday evening, in the last two years Liverpool will have played 115 competitive matches during a timespan that has also included the World Cup, the European Championships, the Africa Cup of Nations, the UEFA Nations League and respective qualifying matches.
James Milner said: “I think the hunger has always been there. Football is so full on. It’s all the year round now. You look at athletes and they are trying to compete for the Olympics or the European Championships which comes around every four or two years. It’s impossible to be always at your peak no matter what and it’s how you deal with the times when you are not quite there or your physical levels are not quite there. You are just a bit out of form or certain players are out of form. The team that does that best (handles it) ultimately wins the title or trophies and is successful. We haven’t dealt with those situations as well as we would have liked this season but last season we were so close and probably ran out of a bit of steam when we were so close to winning everything. That’s football and sometimes that gets overlooked in terms of how it’s all the year round now. For the international boys it’s ridiculous. There are international tournaments in the summer so they are playing games in the summer instead of time off. That’s the hardest part of it all.”
And asked if the workload was unfair on players now, Milner – who has racked up an astonishing 856 club appearances in his career along with 61 England caps before retiring from international duty in 2016 –
James Milner added: “Yes I do. Every other year there shouldn’t be an international tournament and players should be given the full summer off for sure. How long can this go on? The intensity and the number of games… That’s something I would do for sure – every other summer off and then you can go as full on as you want over the season but give them a break. Otherwise, where’s it all heading?”
