Club World Cup poses new challenge for physical preparation

Yahoo

a day ago

The Club World Cup is about to begin and will see Inter and Juventus represent Serie A in the summer tournament. But what physical challenges will the clubs face in this new competition? Football Italia has sought advice from professional fitness coach Michele Balloni.
The Club World Cup kicks off in just a few weeks and will see Inter and Juventus represent Italian football.
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The growing number of games has become a serious issue for clubs and national teams, so Football Italia sat down with a qualified fitness coach to understand how to face and possibly overcome this common problem.
Prof. Balloni has been working for Carrarese for several years, joining the club four years ago and working under Serie A legend Antonio Di Natale.
Club World Cup: Rest and strength will be key
Inter President Beppe Marotta with the FIFA Club World Cup trophy in San Siro (picture via www.inter.it)
'Players have never stopped playing this season, in fact, they'll need recovery,' Balloni tells Football Italia.
'To prepare for a competition like this, the focus should be on recovery strategies and specific strength sessions to maintain high levels. Regarding the activity after the competition and preparation for 2025-26, there will be little time available, but I'd use the same logic.'
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Inter and Juventus will make their debut in the Club World Cup on June 18 and, if they reach the Final, they'll have to play until July 13, resuming preparation for the new campaign only a few weeks later.
The new Serie A season begins on the weekend of August 14, so players will have little time to prepare physically.
'Recovering strategies and maintaining a high level of strength will be key,' Balloni continues.
'The aerobic base can be built in a short time and doesn't diminish quickly, but with strength, you need to push more to combine with proper recovery because these players don't get real breaks.
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'They need windows to recover, which doesn't mean lying on the couch, but doing alternative activities which allow tissues to regenerate. Strength is the key in modern football. A player who can't produce high force will hardly be high-performing.'
Concerns over increasing injuries
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Piotr Zielinski of FC Internazionale goes down with an injury and receives medical treatment during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 08, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by)
The rising number of injuries has been strictly connected to the high number of games played each season, especially when it comes to traumatic injuries.
'The risk of picking up these problems is exponentially higher in games than in training sessions, surely from a traumatic standpoint,' says Balloni.
'As for muscle injuries, I am not sure.
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'Last year, we played in the playoffs until June 9, and paradoxically, I had more problems on routine training days than when we were playing every three days. Obviously, wear and tear increase, so we had to be very careful with recovery, especially on a muscular level.
'Matches essentially became our training sessions. The trend of muscle injuries in football is concerning, as they continue to increase annually. The performance demands mean players are under a lot more stress than in the past. This aspect remains taboo. Nobody has a perfect formula.'
A lot is being said and written about coaches' rapport with their players, but what's the perspective from a staff member, and how do they build trust with footballers?
'It is earned through the field, the time and the results,' says Balloni.
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'Professionalism must be demonstrated in every aspect, from consistently attending the gym and being on the field to following individual players when necessary. The relationship is built over time. You also need to be lucky because when the results are there, everything becomes easier. Convincing people without results is complicated.
'Over the years, we've been good at bringing the players to our side. The result on the field is the outcome of many factors. Players need to feel good.'
The coach's demands also shape the strategy behind fitness preparation. Balloni's Carrarese secured Serie B survival this season, under coach Antonio Calabro.
'If there's a technical gap with the opponents, you must focus on the physical side because if the other team has more possession, you need to run and move,' Balloni concludes.
'From day one, we wanted to create a high-performing team physically. We needed a team that could hold up even in tough moments. The coach plays an extremely aggressive style, employing man-to-man tactics throughout the pitch. It's demanding and it led us to make specific methodological choices and make some adjustments for a new group of players.'