Rodri claims players are close to going on STRIKE while Alisson criticises fixture congestion

Rodri claims players are close to going on STRIKE while Alisson criticises the fixture congestion amid the new Champions League format.

A growing list of footballers are finally finding their voice in hitting out at football’s increasingly hectic schedule with UEFA’s European competitions under the new format, seeing teams will play eight matches in the new league phase (former group stage). They will no longer play three opponents twice.

The Man City midfielder claims players are being treated as commodities, saying the lack of rest is worrying professionals and becoming a constant source of discussion inside dressing rooms.

Pep Guardiola’s side are getting set to face Inter Milan on Wednesday, and if they go all the way in their competitions this season, they could end up competing in 73 matches during a season that is not likely to finish until July especially now they’re participating in the new Club World Cup.

‘I think we are close to that [striking],’ Rodri said. ‘It’s easy to understand [why]. Ask any player and they’d say the same. If it keeps going this way it’ll come to a moment where we have no other option. It is something that worries us.

‘I think it’s too much. Someone has to take care of us, 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.’

The Spanish international played 5,275 minutes across 61 appearances for club and country on the 2023/24 season.

He points out that rest time and extended summer break is the key to why Erling Haaland has been in hot form, scoring 9 goals in 4 Premier League appearances so far this season.

‘He had a long break because his country didn’t qualify for the Euros and you see you how he is performing,’ Rodri added.

‘It gives you a clue why we ask this. I think between 40 and 50 games is the amount a player can perform at the highest level. After that you drop, because it’s impossible to sustain the physical level.

‘If the people want to see better football, we need to rest. When the amount of games starts getting bigger, the performance and quality of the games gets lower.’

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson hit out at the ever-expanding calendar, and there are reports that the PFA are working on legal action against FIFA due to an ‘overloaded and unworkable’ schedule.

‘For us players, it is good that you are going to play against the best in Europe. But it is always a good idea to add some games to the calendar that is not busy… I am being a little bit ironic! Sometimes, nobody asks the players what they think about adding more games.

‘So maybe our opinion does not matter. But everybody knows what we think. Everybody is tired of it. It is a matter of sitting down all together and listening to all the parties. We have the media and TV, UEFA and FIFA, Premier League, domestic competitions.

‘We are not stupid and understand that. We understand that people want more games. But the reasonable thing would be, all the people I mentioned – those who make the calendar – to sit together and listen to all the parties inclusive of the players.’

Alisson: ‘I think so many players have spoken already about that. We just need to be listened to. Sit together and understand what is the thinking of the directions football wants to go. Not only adding games, competitions, adding this and that.

‘What we want is to give our best to football, if you are tired you cannot compete at a high level. I want to give my best in all the games I play but we need a solution. It does not look like we are close to a good solution for football and player sake.’

Twitter users reacted as Rodri claims players are close to going on STRIKE while Alisson criticises fixture congestion…

Ryan McDarby: It is getting f*ckin’ ridiculous. When certain people in FIFA and UEFA were told they couldn’t have a European Super League, they just decided to try and slowly push things that way anyway. Ultimately having more fixtures favours the very few clubs who can afford to have TWO world class teams available at all times.

Neil Gray: Of course Alisson Becker speaks sense. Given UEFA & FIFA have added more games to the players schedule & nothing is done about it all because they want more £ coming into their coffers & that’s not just the men’s game but also the women’s game & they are treating the players like robots which they aren’t. Yes the players get paid big £ to do their job & have the facilities & help to recover quick for games but it will take something serious to happen before UEFA & FIFA see sense & do something about the over congested football schedule.

Darran Watt: I have a lot of respect for Allison and regard him as one of the top goalies in Premier League history but he gets zero sympathy from me on this subject. I worked on a farm for many years, 6 days a week, morning to night, rain, hail and snow, in often dangerous conditions for very little pay. These guys don’t know they are living. I know they train most days but they also get cool down time, the top nutritionists, physios, doctors and agents. Some people work all day, every day and stoll go home at night to help with housework and looking after kids. Imagine working on a building site and telling the boss you can’t work 2 days in a row and want £200,000 a week. This is the reason I will never pay to go see any Premier League match or buy any official merchandise. I value my money a lot more than they value the position they are in.

Ross Bauer: Being paid millions does not render the fact that footballers are mere mortals any less true. Sure, they are fitter than many of us but they are not damage-resistant robots, and even robots break down.

Ryan Darbyshire: Wouldn’t blame them to be fair. I think people are missing the point these players are trying to make. “Get a bigger squad” they’ll all still be required to attend the same amount of training sessions, travel to away games, spending less time with family. It does take it’s toll no matter how much money they’re on. I’d rather see less games of higher quality than more games of less quality. It’s quality over quantity that the fans and the players want. The organisers at FIFA and UEFA don’t seem to get that through their tiny brains.

Stewart Macdonald: Simple facts! Playing too much definitely affects performance! Not their fault but payed far too much! Football sold out long ago!!

Lee Morris: Go an work a normal job then ffs a see how hard that is getting paid 100s thousands a week top class physios doctors travelling world luxury cars houses etc a 15 20 year career an Yr retired set for life sounds pretty good to me

Danny Nagar: He’s not wrong though. The quality of football is dropping massively

Keith Burton: Surely this is why they have a big squad. Rotate the players to keep everyone fit and it shouldn’t be a problem

James Shearing: Fans get treated like customers, players like machines.

Adrian Herbert: Yet part time non leaguers can regularly play over two games a week and work full time as well.

Matt Strong: We should get rid of all mid-season international breaks. Instead have an international ‘season’ after the domestic one. This would be more time efficient.

Rob Burley: He gets paid north of £200k a week, in the current climate with demands of the cost of living fans are going through, to hear him whining about playing too much sport on those wages is actually really disrespectful to the fans and the British public. If you’re not fit to play don’t play but don’t look for sympathy from people struggling to heat their homes and put food on the table.

Tas Kriaris: I don’t want to play so many games but I still want to be paid millions of pounds per week, Really!!!!

Stuart Fletcher: If player wages stopped getting higher there wouldn’t be a need to keep having more games to generate the revenue. They’re part of the problem. But so are the clubs that keep breaking the market in transfers. Players are right though. UEFA would have them playing every other day if they could. That’s great but it would dilute the quality due to fatigue and injuries. There’s already far to many over rated players getting far too much money and airtime as it is

Brian Muir: Players not being listened to, Fans not being listened to. Game being run by accountants, TV and the likes of Real Madrid

Giles Hawker: It’s a spiral that’s out of control. Both clubs whining about FFP and players moaning about burnout, add in the fans that are playing for it all (money is not magic, it comes from someone else in one form or another, TV or marketing or sponsorship or tickets) then this is only going to end up with the collapse of some major European clubs in the next 10 years. Everyone is complaining but then also wants a more lucrative contract every time. Without any promise they will play better or lead their team to victory. Fans are at breaking point yet what they’re being asked is can they see less football for the same/more money? 🤔