The 2023/24 Premier League season has drawn to a close for Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Both sealed wins on the final day of the campaign, with Tottenham beating already-relegated Sheffield United and Newcastle securing three points at Brentford.
For Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs, it’s a return to Europe and specifically playing Europa League football next season.
Newcastle will have to wait a little longer because, if Manchester City beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final, then they will be playing Europa Conference League football next term.
The season is now over right? This is where players can go on their holidays and rest up before Euro 2024 or the Copa America kicks off.
A huge summer of international football awaits, even though the players have just been through a gruelling domestic and European campaign.
Not if you are a Tottenham or Newcastle player.
Gary Lineker told Alan Shearer and Ian Wright that the Newcastle players are ‘currently on a plane to Australia’ where they will play Spurs in a friendly on Wednesday, as he told Match of the Day.
When the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer was fed this information, he was left baffled and called it all ‘crazy’.
Shearer highlighted the fact that the players have two huge major tournaments coming up, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes set to play for Brazil and James Maddison hoping to represent England.
But Ian Wright shared what it’s all about and how ‘money talks’.
Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur friendly in Australia
“I can tell you that the Newcastle players are currently on a plane to Australia, they are playing Spurs on Wednesday in Melbourne in a friendly,” said Lineker.
Wright shouted ‘wow’ in the background with Shearing adding that it’s ‘Madness. Crazy. Can you imagine if you are a player that’s playing in the Copa America or the Euros, now having to do that? I wouldn’t be happy, at all. No, it’s crazy. Go and play Spurs on Wednesday night?!”
Wright then added: “Money talks, man. Money talks.”
Player workload
This was all accepted and agreed by the clubs. Managers can’t complain about workload when they are allowing their own clubs to do this.
Yes, it’s obvious why it’s happening. It’s all about the money, increasing revenue and your appeal across the world, especially if you are Tottenham and you have an Australian manager in the dugout.
READ MORE: What Tottenham Hotspur fans were chanting as Arsenal were losing the Premier League title
But come next season, a few months in, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Howe and Postecoglou are complaining about workload and there being too much.
Spurs will certainly be in Europe, so they will feel it, and if they do moan, then critics will just hit them back with this. It’s as simple as that.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
