5 clubs which had the best bench strength in 2016/17
On an average, clubs that go deep into various competitions over the course of a campaign tend to play 50-60 games in a season. With games coming thick and fast, burnout is a serious issue all managers must tackle, especially in a season that follows a summer with international tournaments.
It is why most teams are ready to hoard plenty of quality players who can not only serve as backup options but also provide healthy competition for places. It can give managers selection headaches but ask any team boss and it is something they would love to have.
So which team had the best bench strength in 2016/17? We look at the top five.
5) Atletico Madrid
The rise of Atletico Madrid in recent years has all been down to their manager Diego Simeone. But, in a way, their inability to go all the way in major competitions has also come down to their all-out approach to games.
The Rojiblancos play a high-intensity game that does take its toll on the squad. They play defensively but Simeone is also aware he cannot match the firepower of Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga. The table paints an accurate picture with Barcelona and Real having scored 112 and 104 goals to third-placed Atletico’s 67 goals. However, Simeone's side have conceded the least goals in the league (26).
The club that reached two Champions League finals in three years fell at the semi-final hurdle this time and failed to mount a league title challenge – much of it down to the 18 injuries they suffered this season. Although his second-string side is not world class, they get the job done.
Miguel Moya has stepped in when goalkeeper Jan Oblak was not available while Jose Gimenez, Lucas Hernandez and Sime Vrsaljko have all played at some point to provide cover in defence. Thomas Partey, Nicolas Gaitan and Angel Correra were also called upon and performed admirably while Fernando Torres also has six goals and five assists in what could be his final season at the club.