Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira has called on football authorities to ease domestic fixture congestion in order to better protect clubs competing in European competitions.
His comments come as Forest prepare for a demanding schedule following their Europa League quarter-final first-leg clash against FC Porto, with a Premier League fixture against Aston Villa scheduled shortly afterwards.
The Portuguese coach warned that the tight scheduling places excessive strain on players and could impact performance levels in crucial matches across multiple competitions.
“If we protect these teams, the teams in the Europa League, Conference League and the Champions League, for sure England can get more titles,” Pereira said, according to BBC Sport.
He argued that even an additional day of recovery could significantly improve competitiveness for teams involved in European football.
“Sometimes it’s important to protect the clubs, to give them the chance to win more titles,” he added.
Pereira also pointed to scheduling approaches in other European leagues, suggesting that fixture adjustments are more commonly made to support clubs involved in continental competitions.
“In my opinion, to protect the teams who are playing in the Europa League and the Conference League, especially, and even the Champions League, just one day after is very important to get results,” he said.
Fixture scheduling in the Premier League is jointly managed by league authorities and broadcast partners, with adjustments typically made based on clubs’ progression in European tournaments.
The remarks add to a growing debate in English football over fixture congestion and player welfare, particularly for clubs competing across multiple competitions during the same season.
