- Completely incomprehensible

The relentless demands of modern football are taking a toll on our beloved Bodø/Glimt players, as highlighted in this report. For an astonishing 27 consecutive months, our team has been engaged in competitive matches, a grueling schedule that leaves players like Håkon Evjen feeling the strain. This continuous cycle, with minimal recovery time between games, is not just physically exhausting but also mentally taxing, making it incredibly difficult for the team to perform at their peak.

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Vi har vel spilt kamp hver eneste måned siden jeg signerte for Glimt. Det merkes, sier Håkon Evjen til VG.

Coach Kjetil Knutsen voices a sentiment shared by many in Norwegian football: the international football calendar is simply unsustainable. He points to the lack of adequate rest for players, even those representing our nation, as a critical issue that needs urgent attention. The comparison to players like Rodri of Manchester City, who also speak out against the overloaded schedule, underscores the widespread nature of this problem. Knutsen's frustration is palpable as he questions the logic behind starting the domestic season so late, especially after qualifying for major tournaments, leaving players no time to recuperate.

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Vi har hatt en liten periode som har vært litt tung. Spillerne har kjent på slitasje, og så skal du jobbe deg igjennom de periodene. Det er utrolig vanskelig, for du får så lite treningstid mellom kampene. Utrolig utfordrende, sier Glimt-trener Kjetil Knutsen til VG.

From our perspective at Aftenposten, this isn't just about Bodø/Glimt; it's about the future of Norwegian football. Knutsen's call for a revised schedule, perhaps an earlier start to the season, is a plea for prioritizing player welfare and ensuring sustainable performance. He believes that Norwegian top football needs strong leadership that isn't afraid to make tough decisions, even if they are unpopular with some supporters. The current system, he argues, is not conducive to developing our players or our game. We must ask: are the football authorities truly listening, or are our players' well-being and the long-term health of our sport being sacrificed for the sake of an overloaded global calendar?

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De får aldri hentet seg inn, og det er utrolig krevende. Det er spillere på landslag og ute i verden som nå ber på sine knær for at det skal bli tatt hensyn til spillernes ve og vel. Det er faktisk et tema som må løftes opp, mener Knutsen.