Guardiola says strike action must come from the players

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has spoken about recent comments made across the football world regarding potential strikes from players over the huge number of games that elite sides are put through per season.

Over the past few days, various figures in the game have been making their thoughts public on a potential strike in relation to the ever-increasing number of matches within tournaments, leading to some players at the top level playing over 60 games in a single season.

Rodri sees support from other players

Rodri Hernández has been one of the players who has spoken out against the way things are done, saying that . His selección teaMMAte, Dani Carvajal, defended the midfielder’s comments, saying : “Yes, I think we are close to that. I think if you ask any Footballer, they will tell you the same thing. It is not just Rodri’s opinion. I think it is the opinion of many players and, if this continues, there will come a time when there is no other option. I don’t know what will happen, but it is something that worries us because we are the ones who suffer from it”.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti also took time at his press conference to address the issue: Ancelotti was frank in expressing his view on the hectic schedule stating: ‘Football needs to take a look at itself. Surely the idea is to play less Games so that players are not subject to getting injured more often. If this means that players would have to take a wage cut, I’m sure that the common objective is to play less Games and I’m sure that the players would not have any major issue in taking a salary reduction if the outcome lead to playing less”.

Now, ahead of the mammoth Premier League tie against fellow title chasers Arsenal, Pep was asked his opinion on the debate, to which he replied that “Many voices are talking about the players’ [welfare]. If something is going to change, it must come from the players.”

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“If someone is going to change something, it must be without sporting directors, managers, media, owners, but without the players - nothing can be played”, he added, “the only people who have the power to do it is them. I think they want to make the game more attractive too. Not just Rodri, players not just in this country but all around the world. We’ll see.”

As well as Rodri’s comments, Guardiola spoke about Kevin de Bruyne, who was taken off at half-time against Inter in the Champions League. As things stand, reports say the Belgian may well miss the Premier League clash, although Guardiola was keen to keep his cards close to his chest: “I don’t know, I did not speak with the doctors yet,” Pep revealed, while adding that “I will have more info tomorrow.” After the game against the Italian champions, Pep had told the media that De Bruyne “didn’t feel good” before the decision was made to take him off.