Players could be close to strike action over the amount of games they are required to play, Manchester City midfielder Rodri warned on Tuesday on the eve of their Champions League opener against Inter Milan.
Expanded Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup formats, alongside enlarged national team competitions, has made for a greater number of games for top teams and players, and Rodri is the latest to say the workload is too great.
I think were close to that (striking), Rodri told reporters. Its the general opinion of the players, and if it keeps this way, well have no other option. I really think its something that worries us. We are the guys who suffer.
The optimal number of games in which a player can perform at the highest level, the Spaniard said, is between 40 and 50.
After that, you drop because its impossible to sustain the physical level, he added. This year, were going to go until 70, maybe 80 (games), depends on how far you go into competitions.
