Manchester City midfielder Rodri says players are close to striking following the number of games they are faced with every season.
With City expected to go deep into all the competitions they are playing in, it is likely a 70-game season is on the horizon for the club in an already horribly crowded calendar.
While speaking to the media on Tuesday ahead of City’s UEFA Champions League clash against Inter Milan at Etihad Stadium, the Spaniard said that the games are becoming too much, and they are close to striking.
“Yes, I think we’re close to that. It is easy to understand,” the Euro 2024 winner said. “I mean, if we were asking something, and I think it’s something general. I think you ask any player; he would say the same. It’s not the opinion of Rodri or whatever.
“I think it’s a general opinion of the players. And if it keeps this way, it will be a moment that we have no other option. I really think. But let’s see, I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going to happen. But it’s something that worries us because we are the guys that suffer.”
When asked about the optimal number of games in a year for footballers, Rodri added that the players need to take care of themselves.
“In my humble opinion, I think it’s too much. I think we have to take care of ourselves,” he said. “Someone has to take care of us because we are the main characters of this, let’s say sport or business – whatever you want to call it.
“And yeah, I think not everything is money or marketing. It’s also the quality of the show. In my opinion, when I’m rested, when I’m not tired, I perform better. And if the people want to see better football, we need to rest.”
City and Inter will lock horns on Wednesday in a replay of the 2023 final won 1-0 by the Premier League champions in their opening game of the new Champions League format.
The new Champions League and Club World Cup formats mean the Premier League champions are forced to play at least four extra matches.
They played just two games to win the Club World Cup in December, but with the new format set to kick off in the summer of 2025, they would need to play three group games and four knockout matches if they were to go all the way.
Across the past two full seasons, City played 120 times across all competitions.
