## 4 Discussion  
This is one of the first studies to evaluate the ETL of elite-level goalkeepers during a competitive microcycle quantifying goalkeeping-specific physical performance. The main findings show that (i) goalkeepers experienced the greatest ETL on MD-3 and the lowest on MD-2 and MD-1 and that (ii) starters' and nonstarters' ETLs were similar on MD-4 and MD-3, while nonstarters compared to starters presented a slightly greater ETL on MD-2 and MD-1. Comprehensive knowledge of daily physical demands placed on elite-level goalkeepers is currently limited [18; 32]. To address the relevant literature gaps, this study analyzed the daily physical performance of elite-level football goalkeepers during competitive microc-cycles (i.e., including one match per week). The results showed significant daily differences for almost all physical performance variables. Specifically, goalkeepers experienced the greatest ETL on MD-3, which was most likely the consequence of implementing high-volume (i.e., defined by total distance and total dives) and high-intensity (i.e., defined by high-intensity dives, high-intensity accelerations and accelerations, and explosive efforts) drills to meet the high physical demands of the game [25; 33; 35; 31]. Considering the current literature, which mostly shows similar results for both goalkeepers and outfield players [12; 33], these findings are expected to some extent. However, some studies have shown that both outfield players and goalkeepers experience the greatest ETL on MD-4 [31; 36]. These differences in findings are probably caused by the use of different training methods in various countries. [35]. Possibly, some coaches do not prefer the greatest training load for the first training session of the microcycle (i.e., after a 2-day recovery period on MD-4); therefore, they implement high-volume and -intensity drills for the second training session of the microcycle (i.e., MD-3). On the other hand, coaches seeking more time for recovery before a match day most likely implement high-volume and -intensity drills for the first training session of the microcycle (i.e., MD-4). Evidently, the training methodology can differ in the loading period (i.e., MD-4 and MD-3) [35; 36]. However, the majority of the research exploring the training load of both outfield players or goalkeepers has consistently evidenced a decrease in ETL in the final period of the microcycle (i.e., tapering period: MD-2 and MD-1) [12; 13; 33; 36; 31]. This strategy enables sufficient recovery from the high physically demanding sessions during the loading period, which consequently ensures optimal match performance on the match day [31; 33; 41]. Given the descriptive analysis in the current study indicating the lowest \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline  & **MD-4** & **MD-3** & **MD-2** & **MD-1** \\  & **Root 1** & **Root 1** & **Root 1** & **Root 1** \\ \hline Total distance & \(-0.36\) & \(-0.22\) & \(-0.37\) & \(-0.04\) \\ High-intensity running & \(0.11\) & \(-0.19\) & \(-0.23\) & \(0.04\) \\ Total dives & \(-0.34\) & \(-0.39\) & \(-0.52\) & \(-0.11\) \\ High-intensity dives & \(-0.49\) & \(-0.27\) & \(-0.37\) & \(-0.14\) \\ High-intensity accelerations & \(-0.55\) & \(-0.56\) & \(-0.52\) & \(-0.66\) \\ High-intensity decelerations & \(-0.60\) & \(-0.39\) & \(-0.43\) & \(-0.47\) \\ Low jumps & \(-0.53\) & \(-0.29\) & \(-0.22\) & \(-0.44\) \\ Medium jumps & \(-0.15\) & \(-0.03\) & \(-0.20\) & \(0.22\) \\ High jumps & \(-0.36\) & \(-0.22\) & \(-0.37\) & \(-0.04\) \\ Explosive efforts & \(0.11\) & \(-0.19\) & \(-0.23\) & \(0.04\) \\ Can R & \(0.74\) & \(0.68\) & \(0.62\) & \(0.61\) \\ Wilks’ Lambda & \(0.45\) & \(0.54\) & \(0.62\) & \(0.62\) \\ \(p\)-value & \(0.69\) & \(0.22\) & \(0.07\) & \(0.07\) \\ C: Starters & \(0.81\) & \(0.85\) & \(0.85\) & \(0.69\) \\ C: Nonstarters & \(-1.29\) & \(-0.93\) & \(-0.68\) & \(-0.87\) \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}