Pep Guardiola has told top soccer players that they are the only ones who can bring about change regarding the increasing number of games they have to play.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri mentioned that players are close to going on strike because of the crowded fixture schedule, which will become even busier with next year’s expanded Club World Cup in the United States.
Guardiola stated on Friday that the stars of the game may need to “take a voice and do something” if they want to make a difference.
“If something is going to change, always (it) must come from the players,” the City manager said. “That business (soccer) can be without managers, can be without sporting directors, can be without media, can be without owners, but without the players (it) cannot be played.
“So the only (ones) that have the power to do it is them.” Players’ unions have legally challenged FIFA about the expansion of the Club World Cup, which will have 32 teams for the first time next year, up from seven.
This tournament is scheduled for the offseason for many major leagues in June and July.
The global players’ union FIFPRO has expressed concerns about the rising physical and mental demands on players, but the European Club Association, which represents top clubs including City, has welcomed the competition.
Unions in England and France filed a claim against FIFA at the Brussels Court of Commerce in June, challenging FIFA’s “decisions to unilaterally set the international match calendar.”
The Champions League has also been expanded this season, adding two more games in the new group stage.
Spain international Rodri played in 10 different competitions during the 2022-23 season, which was made busier by a mid-season World Cup. He ended up playing 64 times for both club and country, including reaching the final of the European Championship, which Spain won.
This season will conclude with the Club World Cup, which could add seven more games if City makes it to the final.
Rodri, who is nominated for the Ballon d’Or award, mentioned that players might need to consider striking.
“If it keeps this way, it will be a moment when we have no other option, I really think,” he said. “It’s something that worries us because we are the guys who suffer.”
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany believes there should be a limit on how many games a player can play in a season, which would encourage coaches to reduce the demands on their star players.
“I think it’s not just the load for the players but the travels. Some of these guys, they go from playing in the Champions League to playing a national team game in Korea or something and then back.
If you do that for 70, 75, 80 games, there’s a point where it’s not realistic anymore, so to this point I can only support the feeling of the players,” he said.
Hosting the Club World Cup in 2025 means top players will face three consecutive years of major competitions during the usual offseason, since the Euros and Copa America were held this year and the next World Cup is in 2026.
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said players need to be included in discussions about the demands placed on them.
“The calendar is very intense. They need to be heard, they need to participate in these decisions because we want good football… Rodri, he is totally right to have this opinion,” he said.
