Manchester City will compete in a new-look Champions League as well as an expanded Club World Cup this summer; City could play up to 75 games this season; Spain international Rodri joins a number of players who have expressed concerns about the fixture list
Friday 20 September 2024 13:28, UK
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has suggested players could strike over increasing fixture congestion.
City face a busy season ahead as they compete in the new-look Champions League and an expanded Club World Cup next summer.
A number of players - including City defender Manuel Akanji and Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker - have expressed concern about the additional workload facing elite players in recent days, and the chief executive of the English players' union, Maheta Molango, has said those running the game must "sit up and take notice" of their comments.
Euro 2024 winner Rodri, one of the leading contenders for this year's Ballon d'Or award, agrees the issue is a major concern.
Asked if players could ever strike or refuse to play, the influential Spain international said at a press conference: "I think we are close to that. I think if you ask any player he will say the same.
"It is not the opinion of Rodri or whatever. I think it's the general opinion of the players.
"And if it keeps this way, there will be a moment where we have no other option, I really think, but let's see.
"I don't know what's going to happen but it's something that worries us because we are the guys that suffer."
Rodri was speaking ahead of City's Champions League opener against Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
The match will be City's first taste of the event's new league phase - a 36-team competition in which all teams will play eight unique fixtures.
That is an increase of two on the old group stage, while teams finishing in positions nine to 24 will play an additional two-legged play-off tie.
That means City, having featured in the Community Shield in August, could potentially play 75 matches this season. Players featuring in international football could face even more.
Rodri, who made his first appearance of the season in Saturday's defeat of Brentford, said: "From my experience between 40-50 is the amount of games in which a player can perform in the highest level.
"After that, you drop because it is impossible to sustain the physical level.
"This year we can go to 70, maybe 80. I don't know, it depends on how far you go in the competitions.
"In my humble opinion, I think it is too much. I think we have to take care of ourselves. Someone has to take care of ourselves because we are the main characters of this sport or business or whatever you want to call it.
"Not everything is money or marketing - it is also the quality of the show.
"When I am not tired I perform better and if the people want to see a better football, we need to rest."
Sky Sports' Paul Merson:
"You're playing for the top teams, you want to be playing the most games. For me, you shouldn't say it, even if you think it.
"There's people who won't be able to pay their electricity bills this winter, these guys are on £200,000 a week. They're playing the best sport in the world.
"We'd all love to still be playing it. It goes that quickly, enjoy it while you can. The most important thing to do is stay fit and keep playing.
"People have a go at footballers that they live in a bubble and are a million miles away from reality, and things like that. When people come out and say things like that, it sums it up really. You can't be saying that.
"You could say it between yourselves, but don't come out publicly and say it."
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers said he understood the concerns of Rodri and the players as fixtures continued to be added to the calendar.
"If you look to where football may be heading, you are looking at a 12-month season," he said ahead of Celtic's Champions League opener against Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday.
"It used to be that you used to have that summer break and that was near enough assured from a player perspective and in particular the top players as well.
"If we look at our own selves and our own country, we'll hopefully go deep in the competitions so you get all of those games, plus the international games.
"I totally understand where Rodri's coming from. He's not moaning about games but it's about the quality of games and of course, the first thing that goes is technical ability when you are tired and fatigued.
"What we always want is the best product for the supporters. Every football player loves to play and train, but they want to produce quality and be able to be at their best as often as they can be.
"It's a natural concern and I totally get it."
The Professional Footballers' Association is involved in two separate legal challenges to the sport's global governing body FIFA over the fixture calendar, with its introduction of a 32-team Club World Cup widely described by unions and
domestic leagues as a "tipping point" in prompting the actions through the legal system.
Responding to Rodri's remarks on Tuesday, PFA chief executive Molango said: "The impact of fixture congestion and increasing player workload is no longer a problem that's coming down the line. It's already here.
"This is the year when we can look at the calendar and say clearly 'this doesn't work'. Players see that and they are now experiencing it.
"They're making their feelings increasingly clear but, as I've said before, this is no longer just a player problem - this is a problem for everyone in football.
"As unions, we are already taking legal action to challenge this and players are now openly talking about what options are available to them to force change.
"They want to be listened to, and those who run the game must now sit up and take notice."
Sky Sports News has contacted FIFA for comment.
When contacted by Sky Sports News, UEFA declined to comment but referred to an interview president Aleksander Ceferin gave to Sky News last month, in which he defended the expanded European competitions.
He said: "From the other point of view, players, of course, don't want to play more matches, but I think with these interesting matches, this will be a benefit for everyone."
One player who looks to have benefited from a rest over the summer is City striker Erling Haaland, who has already scored nine goals after just four Premier League games.
Rodri feels the Norwegian's form illustrates his point.
"Maybe he is a good example," he said.
"He had a long break because his country didn't qualify for the Euros. You see how he is performing right now and he is turning into that beast we saw in the early days."
City's clash with Inter is a repeat of the 2023 final, in which Rodri scored the winning goal.
He said: "We were watching the game yesterday (Monday) because they haven't changed much and it was great to see.
"It was a great time but now life goes on. They are tough to beat and we will need our best performance."
