If fixtures keep increasing players could go rogue_ Rodri

Rodri, Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder, has warned that leading footballers might consider striking if the increasingly crowded fixture schedule continues. City, the 2023 Champions League winners, are set to play Inter Milan in their first match of the newly expanded Champions League phase, which now includes 36 teams and eight group matches. Alongside this, City will also participate in an expanded Club World Cup at season’s end.

Rodri expressed concern over the growing number of fixtures, stating, “If it continues like this, we might have no choice but to strike. It is something that worries us.” In contrast, City manager Pep Guardiola chose to focus on the present, suggesting it is premature to consider such drastic measures. Liverpool’s Alisson, echoing similar sentiments, criticized the lack of player input on fixture congestion, saying, “Maybe our opinion doesn’t matter, but everyone is tired of having more games.”