New Delhi: Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri has spoken out against the fixture congestion that his club faces this season following the change in format of both the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup. Both tournaments have expanded to 36 and 32 teams respectively which sees the number of games a club plays in the tournament increase, thus increasing the fixture congestion, especially after a summer of International tournaments.
Speaking ahead of his side’s opening Champions League fixture against Inter Milan this Wednesday, the UEFA Champions League winning midfielder was asked whether the players will strike against the schedule. Rodri responded saying, “I think we’re close to that.” Being involved in both the Champions League and the Club World Cup this season, the Premier League champions can potentially play up to 75 games this season, which is an unreal number for any team.
Across the last two seasons, the Citizens played a combined 120 games over the last two seasons and with the new formats of these two competitions, the club will play at least five extra matches compared to last season’s guaranteed fixtures. Being a key player for both Manchester City and Spain, the midfielder made 63 appearances enroute to City’s Premier League and Spain’s UEFA Euro 2024 triumph.
Rodri has suggested players are “close” to going on strike because of concerns over their increasing workload 😳 pic.twitter.com/P5ZSUamZCV
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) September 17, 2024
Even during the Citizens’ treble-winning 2022/23 campaign, he played 68 games for his side but feels that playing anywhere between 40-50 games per season would be optimum for everyone. The increase in fixtures isn’t just limited to increasing player fatigue but is also affecting the quality of the games as players are being overworked. He called out the higher authorities to take care of the footballers as they are the main characters of this sport and said no one is looking out for them.
Rodri isn’t the only player to speak out against the fixture pile-up this season as many players and managers have been speaking out against the same ever since the season started. Rodri’s Manchester City teammate, Manuel Akanji also spoke out against the same topic, even going so far as to saying that he might retire at 30 if the schedule continues to be this way.
Other City players like Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, Liverpool’s Alisson, and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, all have spoke out against this increase in fixtures. Rodri even mentioned how it’s a problem for both the club and his national side stating that players in both camps are worried about this and he called for a break for the players.
With both UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup changing their formats from this season, some clubs face the prospect of playing over 70 games this season. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
