From congested fixtures to long-haul flights, European competition is taking a toll on players—and clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa are feeling the effects. In this feature story from The Athletic, D’Urso examines how frequent travel disrupts recovery, heightens fatigue, and quietly influences performance on the pitch.
Kitman Labs research is cited throughout the story, with CEO Stephen Smith highlighting the cumulative impact of long-distance travel on performance, recovery, and squad cohesion. Using machine learning to analyze over 61,000 fixtures across Europe, the findings reveal that travel distance has a greater effect on match outcomes than team form or even opponent quality—offering clubs a data-driven lens through which to manage risk and optimize performance.
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