Joe Cole Slams Football’s ‘Flog The Horse’ Mentality As Injuries Mount For PSG, Chelsea And Rodri

Former Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole has launched a stinging criticism of football’s governing bodies, arguing that the relentless fixture schedule is sacrificing player health and the quality of the sport for profit. Speaking with Paddy Power, Cole warned that stars like Rodri, Lamine Yamal, and Ousmane Dembélé are being “flogged for financial reasons,” risking both their careers and the integrity of the game.

Cole’s Take On Overloaded Players

Asked about Chelsea’s recent struggles, Cole insisted poor discipline on the pitch wasn’t linked to their Club World Cup exploits, but injuries across top clubs certainly are.

“Injuries, yeah 100%,” Cole said. “Look at PSG — they had 5 or 6 starters out against Barcelona. Chelsea have had the same. Manchester City too. These aren’t just squad players, these are the world’s best being run into the ground.”

Cole emphasized that football fans deserve elite performances, not tired, overplayed stars:

“You don’t want to see players at 50, 60, 70%. You want to see the best of Yamal, the best of Dembele, the best of Rodri. But when you keep flogging players, their levels drop. That’s not good for anyone — not the players, not the fans.”

PSG And Chelsea’s Growing Injury Lists

Both PSG and Chelsea are dealing with extensive injury problems early in the 2025-26 campaign.

• PSG were without Ballon d’Or winner Dembele, Desire Doue, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for their clash with Barcelona, and lost Joao Neves during warm-up. Despite that, they still managed an impressive 2-1 win at Camp Nou.

• Chelsea — fresh off beating PSG in the Club World Cup final in July — have lost five central defenders and their star man Cole Palmer to a groin injury. Their Premier League campaign began just four days after the Super Cup, compounding fatigue.

Rodri’s Struggles Highlight Bigger Issue

Reigning Ballon d’Or winner Rodri also pulled up with another injury — a hamstring strain — during Manchester City’s win at Brentford. This comes just months after a torn ACL in 2024 that sidelined him for most of last season. His absence from Spain’s World Cup qualifiers is another blow for club and country.

Cole argued that the connection between overloaded schedules and injuries is obvious:

“It’s too simple to say, ‘They’re footballers, they get paid to play.’ This isn’t about money. Football should be sacred. It’s not about flogging the horse — it’s about riding the horse at the right time.”

The Bigger Picture

The Club World Cup’s expanded format, coupled with congested domestic and European schedules, has fueled growing concerns about player burnout. Cole’s comments echo what many players and managers have voiced: the game’s sacredness is being eroded by financial greed.

And with stars like Yamal, Rodri, and Dembele central to football’s future, the debate over whether the game is sacrificing its best for revenue is set to intensify.