France coach Laurent Blanc is campaigning for a reduction in the number of teams in the French league because he says some of his players are overburdened with too many matches.
Blanc told Wednesday's edition of L'Equipe newspaper that the top clubs involved in European competitions play too much and that a return to 18 teams in the league could help to reduce the toll on his internationals' fitness.
Blanc said that the top clubs provide about 80 percent of the France players and that the quality of the games during big competitions hinges upon those players.
Blanc was appointed as the national team coach after the World Cup debacle in South Africa, where France was eliminated in the first round. France also failed to advance past the group stage at the 2008 European Championship.
The former Manchester United defender also rued the growing importance of the Champions League, which is "gobbling up all the rest" and leaves only a few dates for the national teams.
"We won't see (the France team) play in official games before March," Blanc said. "Why? To make room for the Champions League. This is abnormal."
Given the importance of the Champions League, Blanc said that the only way to free up dates for national teams is a reduction of domestic competitions.
"We should either return to 18 clubs in League 1 or cancel a cup competition," Blanc said.
