Manchester City's Rodri claims players are 'close' to going on strike over jam-packed soccer calendar

Manchester City's Rodri said players are "close" to going on strike in protest of the crowded soccer calendar, which has increasingly become a point of tension in the sport amid concerns about player welfare.

The midfielder addressed the topic in a press conference on Tuesday ahead of City's UEFA Champions League match against Inter, and was asked directly if players are contemplating a labor stoppage.

"I think we are close to that, it is easy to understand," he said, per ESPN. "I think it's something general. I think if you ask any player he will say the same, it is not the opinion of Rodri or whatever. I think it's the general opinion of the players. And if it keeps this way, there will be a moment where we have no other option, I really think but let's see. I don't know what's going to happen, but it's something that worries us because we are the guys that suffer."

Don't miss any of the Champions League. As always, you can catch all of our coverage across Paramount+, CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network all season long.

Rodri played 62 games for both Manchester City and Spain's national team during the 2023-24 season, a reflection of the workload players at the top levels of the game face. City played a 38 game season in the Premier League but made a run to the FA Cup final and Champions League quarterfinals, while also competing in England's EFL Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup during that time.

Rodri also played a big part in Spain's title-winning run at the Euros this summer, meaning his season came to an end in the final on July 14. The midfielder was afforded some rest at the start of City's season but returned to play on Aug. 31, playing three games this season between club and country. Another 50-plus game season could be ahead for Rodri – City will compete again in the Premier League, the Champions League and England's two cup competitions but they have also qualified for the expanded Club World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in the U.S. in June and July.

Since joining Manchester City in 2019, the 28-year-old has averaged more than 50 games played each season and though it is the norm for him, he admitted that it may be excessive.

"I don't have an exact number," he said about the number of games players should be playing. "From my experience I can tell you that 60-70 [games a season]? No. Between 40 or 50 is the amount of games in which a player can perform at the highest level. After that you drop because it is impossible to sustain the physical level. This year we can go to 70, maybe 80, I don't know. It depends how far you go in the competitions. In my humble opinion, I think it is too much."

Rodri joins a long list of players and coaches who have already expressed their concerns about fixture congestion at this early stage of the season. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti attributed a series of injuries to his players to the packed calendar, while City defender Manuel Akanji said over the weekend that he might retire at 30 over the physical and mental toll of the packed calendar. City manager Pep Guardiola has also been a long-time critic of the schedule and previously placed the blame on the sport's governing bodies.

"Institutions like FIFA, UEFA, and Premier League don't think about the players so the managers have to think about it," he said during City's preseason tour of the U.S. in July. "Otherwise, they will die. It's too much. … There's no solution. Will not be [a] solution because there is no intention to be [a] solution."

Rodri's comments come amidst an increased effort from player unions to force changes to the calendar. FIFPRO Europe and the European Leagues sued FIFA in July over what they describe as an "unsustainable" calendar, while PFA CEO Maheta Molango backed the City midfielder's comments.

"The impact of fixture congestion and increasing player workload is no longer a problem that's coming down the line," Molango said in a statement on Tuesday, per Sky Sports. "It's already here. This is the year when we can look at the calendar and say clearly this doesn't work. Players see that and they're now experiencing it. They're making their feelings increasingly clear but as I've said before, this is no longer just a player problem. This is a problem for everyone in Football. As unions, we are already taken legal action to challenge this and players are now openly talking about what options are available to them to force change. They want to be listened to and those who run the Game must now sit up and take notice."