Hibs boss Lee Johnson claims the early season format is DEGRADING to the Premier Sports Cup in the wake of his side’s humiliating early exit.
The former Sunderland gaffer claims it’s senseless for the group stage of the League Cup to take place during pre-season, minus Scottish football’s European representatives, with teams still finding their feet during summer. The group stage will come to a conclusion on Sunday with the knockout stage draw to take place after Aberdeen host Raith Rovers in Group A.
Johnson has faced criticism early in his Easter Road reign following a defeat to Falkirk and penalty shoot-out loss to Morton with their fate sealed due to an administrative blunder which saw defender Rocky Bushiri, who has since been charged by the SFA, feature against Ton despite being suspended for the match.
And the 41-year-old Hibs boss said: “It doesn’t make sense playing the League Cup this early. It almost degrades the competition itself. You’re talking about players playing competitive games every three days, when you can only make five subs, two-and-a-half weeks into pre-season.
“I’m new to this country in terms of football management and I need to abide by its rules. But if we want players to stay fit and to perform well, it’s a competition which should begin after the first game of the league season, perhaps in midweek.
“That’s how it should be if what matters is the balance of pushing the lads to the extreme in training, but also protecting them for a long season to come. It’s been interesting getting used to the format but some things don’t add up.”
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