By Enitan Abdultawab
Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has offered a candid assessment of the differences between Premier League and Champions League football, claiming that the domestic league has become far more physical and transitional than European competition.
Gordon, who explained this during the presser ahead of an important clash away at Paris Saint-Germain, said that the relentless intensity of Premier League matches often turns games into physical contests, with duels and set-pieces deciding outcomes rather than structured, possession-based football.
“There is not much control, it’s a running game, and sometimes it’s about duels: who wins the duels, wins the game,” he said.
In contrast, the 23-year-old winger described the Champions League as more open, with teams playing a “proper football” style that allows for creativity and sustained attacking periods. “I think in the Champions League, teams are much more open. They all try to play; it’s less transitional,” Gordon added.
He also highlighted the evolution of the Premier League into a faster, more physical competition. “In the Premier League now, you have seen a lot more long throw-ins and set-pieces. It’s become a lot slower and a lot more set-piece-based, I would say,” he said, likening some matches to a basketball-style endurance test due to their relentless pace.
Gordon’s observations have sparked debate among fans and pundits over the modern direction of English football, with many agreeing that tactical control and fluidity have often given way to high-intensity, physical battles in recent seasons.
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen which of the two teams – Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle – will drop out of the top eight (8) race, with the teams sitting below them – Chelsea, Barcelona, and the likes – winning their respective ties.
The post Premier League more physical than Champions League – Anthony Gordon appeared first on Vanguard News.
