Hoffenheim coach Ilzer attacks UEFA: "It's madness!"

Christian Ilzer and TSG Hoffenheim secured their first victory in the UEFA Europa League with a 3-0 win against Lyon (Match report >>>).

Despite the sporting success, not everything is rosy for the Styrian. The packed schedule is causing considerable displeasure for the 49-year-old.

"The UEFA fixture list is madness," Ilzer states after the match, sharply criticizing the European football association.

Especially for clubs with double burdens and numerous international players, the high workload is increasingly becoming a problem. Ilzer refers to the injury situation at top European clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

Club coaches are often left with only rotation to rest players. At the same time, they quickly come under pressure if key players are given a break.

Ilzer Demands Rethink on Nations League

The Nations League, in particular, is a thorn in the side of the former Sturm Graz coach.

"The focus for national teams should be the European Championship and the World Cup. These are the big highlights for the players, these are the big highlights for all national associations. That's what you should work towards, you have to qualify for that. You don't need an artificial Nations League," says Ilzer.

The 49-year-old considers the additional competition superfluous given the already overcrowded fixture list and demands a fundamental rethinking of the UEFA calendar.

Meanwhile, Ilzer can likely continue to rely on his long-time companion and sporting director Andreas Schicker, who denied rumors of a move. >>>