WHAT’S THE STORY?
In case you haven’t read the story, some Premier League teams are deploying a tactic where a player goes down injured in the second half, giving teammates time to take on energy gels.
It has been reported that in at least 14 Premier League games this season, a player has required attention from the physio in the second half between the 60th and 70th minute, in games when there is something left to play for.
This brief stop allows players to take on fast-acting carbohydrates in the form of energy gels. It gives them an energy boost, enabling the players to maintain their high-pressing tactics late into the game.
The tactic has been largely successful, with frequency of goals post-60mins higher for those teams deploying the strategy, and many of those teams sit comfortable in their leagues.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ENERGY GELS
Gamesmanship aside, the main takeaway from this story is that you cannot overemphasise the importance of sports nutrition.
Carbohydrate gels have been designed specifically to provide instant energy in situations such as this. Consequently, taking a dose of instant energy late in a game will always give you a physical edge if you opposition is running on empty.
Our Fuel90 energy gel has been designed specifically for footballers, containing a fast-absorbing 28g dual-carbohydrate formula with both dextrose and fructose, as well as electrolytes to enhance hydration.
Soccer Supplement is used by teams including West Ham, Wolves, Crystal Palace, and Norwich, as well as the national teams of Scotland and Mexico. Individuals such as Harry Kane, Lucy Bronze, and Paulo Dybala also use our gels to perform at the top of their game.
SHOULD WE BE APPLAUDING THIS?
This is difficult to answer to answer as these tactics will split opinions and in the rules of the game no team team has done anything wrong.
It's also not uncommon for a player to seek attention whilst a manager makes tactical changes. On average a ball is in play for only 60 minutes of the match. Teams have simply found a way to gain an edge in the final stages of a match.
Ultimately, the football fans are mixed in their views on this one, but we at Soccer Supplement will always back the science and having players at the top of their game, if a small stop allows a strategic deployment of energy gels, and that results in a faster paced game with the chance of last-gasp goals can that really be a bad thing?
