Manchester City midfielder Rodri has raised concerns over the increasing number of games professional footballers are required to play each season, warning that players are “close” to launching a strike. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the Spanish international expressed his frustration over player overload.
“I think we are close to that, it is easy to understand,” Rodri said. “I think it’s something general. I think if you ask any player, he will say the same. It is not the opinion of Rodri or whatever.”
Last season, Rodri made a staggering 63 appearances across all competitions for Manchester City. Following the club season, he continued to represent Spain, competing in the UEFA European Championship until the final on July 14.
“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,” he added. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but it’s something that worries us, because we are the guys that suffer.”
Manchester City is set to host Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium as they kick off their UEFA Champions League campaign on Wednesday. Top-tier teams like City often face demanding schedules, participating in multiple competitions throughout the season, but the workload has continued to increase in recent years.
“I don’t have an exact number,” Rodri said regarding the ideal number of games. “From my experience, I can tell you that 60-70 [games a season]? No. Between 40 or 50 is the amount of games in which a player can perform at 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 how far you go in the competitions. In my humble opinion, I think it is too much.”
Manchester City will compete for titles in the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Champions League, and FIFA Club World Cup this season. This extensive schedule means that some players could end up making as many as 85 appearances by the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
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Manchester City midfielder Rodri: Overloaded players 'close' to strike
cgtn.com
