Rodri sensationally claims players are close to STRIKING over schedule after Alisson said ‘our opinion does not matter’

MANCHESTER CITY midfielder Rodri has suggested that players could go on strike over extreme fixture scheduling.

The Spaniard made 50 appearances for City last season and even begged Pep Guardiola to give him a rest back in April.

It was the second time he voiced concerns about player welfare, having already claimed his workload was “not healthy” the previous year.

But he doubled down on his stance ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League clash between Man City and Inter Milan.

Asked how many games is optimum for a footballer, Rodri said: “Honestly I don’t have an exact number.

“From my experience I can tell you 60-70 now, between 40-50 is the amount a player can play in the highest level, after you drop because it is impossible to sustain the highest level.

“This year we can go to 70, maybe 80, in my humble opinion it is too much. Someone has to take care of ourselves.

“We are the main characters of this sport or business.

“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 better football, we need to rest.”

The 28-year-old was then quizzed about the possibility of players going on strike over the issue.

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He added: “Yeah, I think we are close to that, it is easy to understand.

“If you ask any player he will say the same, it is not the opinion of Rodri, if it keeps this way, there will be a moment where we don’t have any other option.”

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson also voiced his disapproval of the fixture scheduling this week.

The Brazilian slammed UEFA’s new Champions League format in which teams are forced to play at least eight group stage games as opposed to six.

Ahead of Liverpool’s match against AC Milan, he said: “For the supporters, it is amazing – more games, more bigger games.

“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.”

The comments from both Rodri and Alisson come just a fortnight after PFA chief executive Maheta Molango suggested players should be limited to a MAXIMUM of 60 games per season.

The players’ union boss said: “We need to protect the players from themselves.

“They love playing, they are committed to playing and they don’t want to lose their starting spot.

“But the fans are paying 100 per cent prices and not seeing 100 per cent of the show.

“We think there should be a maximum number of games, between 50 and 60 per season, which can vary depending on your age.

“But players must not play more than five or six games back to back and they must be allowed a minimum three weeks of complete rest in the summer.”

Players also have several international fixtures to contend with throughout the season as well as next summer’s new-look Club World Cup.

Man City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are among the European sides in line to compete at the tournament in the USA which runs from June 15 to July 13.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk