What They're Saying: Andre Blake

• by Soccer America , Oct 3, 2023

"We’re the ones that are suffering, and the quality of the league is going to go down. Are you going to allow us to have more depth? Or, if you ask players to play however many games, obviously there’s going to be injuries, and when injuries come, then teams don’t have their best players on the field.”

-- Philadelphia Union goalkeeper and vice-captain Andre Blake on MLS's crowded schedule, a situation he termed “ridiculous, and players have to speak up." The Union will head into the 2023 playoffs having already played 48 games in all competitions over 35 weeks. It reached the Concacaf Champions League semifinals and claimed third place in the expanded Leagues Cup. The Union finished September with five MLS games in 15 days, all ending in ties. LAFC will also have played 48 games in all competitions. Atlanta United, San Jose and Toronto FC will have played the fewest games, the minimum of 37. (Philadelphia Inquirer)