Man City star Rodri warns gamers might go on STRIKE over burnout fears
Manchester City star Rodri has warned that top level footballers will go on strike if their schedules are not reduced.
Rodri admits the number of games players are being asked take part in has got out of control. And the Spanish midfielder reckons it is taking such a toll on their bodies and mental health, that drastic action is needed to make football’s rules do something about it.
Rodri made 64 appearances for club and country last season – and got so tired he had to ask Pep Guardiola if he could take a break in April. Due to the new Champions League format this season, City face a potential 17 games to get to the final on May 31, while the inaugural Club World Cup will kick off in June.
Rodri admits it might take footballers downing tools and refusing to play, to make the likes of FIFA, UEFA and Premier League sit up and take notice.
Rodri said: “I think we’re close to that (going on strike). It’s the general opinion of the players, and if it keeps this way, we’ll have no other option. I really think it’s something that worries us. We are the guys who suffer.
“From my experience I can tell you that 60 or 70 games, no. Between 40 and 50 is the amount of games in which a player can perform at the highest level. This year we are maybe going to go until 70 or maybe 80. In my humble opinion, I think it is too much.
“Someone has to take care of us, because we are the main characters of this. Not everything is about money or marketing. It is about the quality of the show. In my opinion, when I am not tired I perform better. If people want to see better football then we need to rest.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola will reserve judgement on the new Champions League format as 2023 winners Manchester City prepare to begin their latest European campaign.
The City manager said at a press conference: “We are in our first game, then the second and we will see what happens in the last games to go through.
“It is not necessary to look now. It’s in the future. We will see.”
