The rise in anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the Premier League this season is linked to players competing in more games, says Pep Guardiola’s trusted knee surgeon Dr Ramon Cugat.
This month, Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez became the 10th top-flight player to injure his ACL this season.
That is the most there has been since 2016-17, when there were 12 in the whole season. There were nine during the 2023-24 campaign.
Dr Cugat, who has been treating Guardiola’s players since the Manchester City manager’s days in charge at Barcelona, told BBC Sport there is “no single cause, but rather a set of situations that increase the probability of injury”.
The surgeon, who operates from Barcelona and has treated Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Fernando Torres and Kevin de Bruyne, says one of the most important factors is the increase in workload, “which in turn implies inadequate recovery”.
Seven of this season’s 10 ACL injuries have come since the turn of the year. As well as Martinez, the injury has struck down Tottenham defender Radu Dragusin, Ipswich winger Wes Burns, Everton midfielder Orel Mangala, Crystal Palace defender Chadi Riad, Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus and Bournemouth forward Enes Unal.
December and January are among the most congested periods of the Premier League season.
Leicester forward Abdul Fatawu suffered the injury in November, and both Manchester City midfielder Rodri and Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Yerson Mosquera went through the experience in September.
Common causes of ACL injuries, external include landing incorrectly from a jump, stopping suddenly, changing direction and having a collision. Although these injuries are no longer necessarily career-ending, all 10 of those injured this season are set to miss the remainder of the campaign.
