Is the Club World Cup to blame for Chelsea, PSG injury crisis?

"What do Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid have in common? Of the many answers to that question, two are particularly pertinent right now: First, they've all been afflicted by copious and curious injuries early this season; second, they all played competitive football deep into the summer while contesting the latter stages of the newly formatted FIFA Club World Cup, which Chelsea won on July 14."

"PSG took on Barcelona this month in what should have been a blockbuster Champions League tie, yet the absence of five players who started the 5-1 final victory over Inter Milan in May -- Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, João Neves and Marquinhos -- dampened the occasion a little. A handful of days later, Chelsea fans grimaced as Benoît Badiashile and Josh Acheampong limped out of what was, eventually, a sensational 2-1 victory over Premier League champions Liverpool."

"And they add to an already jaw-dropping list of injuries: Cole Palmer is on his second muscle strain of the campaign; Liam Delap has sustained a Grade 2 hamstring pull; Dário Essugo has had surgery on his thigh; Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana and Andrey Santos all missed the game with knocks; and Levi Colwill's ACL tear has already ruled him out for most of the season."

Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid have suffered an unusual number of early-season injuries. All three clubs played competitive matches deep into the summer while contesting the newly formatted FIFA Club World Cup, and Chelsea won on July 14. European club seasons have extended beyond May for the first time outside the COVID-19 disruption, creating novel scheduling and recovery challenges. Club medical departments are struggling to keep players fit. PSG fielded a weakened lineup against Barcelona after five players who started the 5-1 final vs Inter Milan in May were absent. Chelsea's casualty list includes multiple muscle and hamstring injuries and an ACL tear that will sideline Levi Colwill for most of the season.

Read at ESPN.com