Players may strike over too many games says Manchester City’s Rodri

Manchester City's Rodri during a training session at the City Football Academy, Manchester. Photo / Getty Images

Manchester City’s Spanish 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 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 (Thursday 0700 NZT).

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 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.

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 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.”