Manchester City midfielder Rodri has cautioned that top footballers might consider striking if the trend of an increasingly congested schedule continues. City, the 2023 Champions League winners, are set to face Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday in their first match of the newly expanded league phase of the competition.
The new format of the 36-team tournament, which includes eight league fixtures for each club, represents a significant departure from the original European Cup, which featured only national champions. Additionally, City will participate in an expanded Club World Cup at the season’s end.
Rodri expressed concern about the potential for player strikes, stating, “Yes, I think we are close to that. If it keeps this way we will have no other option. It is something that worries us.”
City manager Pep Guardiola, however, took a more measured approach, suggesting that it is too early to predict how the expanded schedule will affect the players and teams, saying, “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.”
Rodri’s remarks align with comments from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, who has voiced frustration over the lack of consideration given to players regarding fixture congestion. Liverpool will face AC Milan away on Tuesday in their opening fixture of the competition.