Gareth Southgate admits Liverpool and Tottenham's Champions League progression 'complicates' England's bid for Uefa Nations League glory, but believes the national side will reap the long term benefits.
The two Premier League sides are due to meet in the Champions League final in Madrid on June 1, just five days before England take on the Netherlands in their Nations League semi-final.
That means Southgate is likely to be without a plethora of key players for the bulk of England's training camp, with the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Danny Rose, Kieran Trippier, Eric Dier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Jordan Henderson all expected to be involved.
However, while Southgate knows his preparations will be disrupted, he believes the experience of playing in the biggest game in European club football will stand his young charges in good stead for future international tournaments.
"From an England perspective it's brilliant for our young players, that they're having these experiences in big matches where they're having to play under pressure and they've come out successfully," Southgate told Sky News.
"It's making things more complicated, that's for sure. The reality is we'll get seven or eight of those players three days before our semi-final.
"You have great ideas as a manager of planning things and working with the team, but in truth we'll half of our squad that won't be with us until three days before. So it's more complicated but brilliant for the players.
"Long term for England, we need them in those matches and our job as a staff is to adapt to those changes and make sure we're still prepared for the semi-final with Holland."
