Man City boss Pep Guardiola backs strike action over player workload after Rodri threat​

Manchester City midfielder Rodri claimed this week that elite-level players are ‘close’ to going on strike, as the football calendar gets busier than ever in the 2024-25 season

​Manchester City midfielder Rodri claimed this week that elite-level players are ‘close’ to going on strike, as the football calendar gets busier than ever in the 2024-25 season Manchester City midfielder Rodri claimed this week that elite-level players are ‘close’ to going on strike, as the football calendar gets busier than ever in the 2024-25 season   

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has thrown his support behind the idea of elite-level players going on STRIKE amid claims that they’re being overworked.

Guardiola recently heard one of City’s star players, Rodri, call for footballers themselves to take action. The Spanish midfielder’s comments came as City and 35 other sides embarked on their Champions League campaigns this week.

UEFA have expanded this season’s European competitions, increasing fixture congestion compared to the previous formats. And at the end of the campaign, the first newly-expanded Club World Cup will take place in the United States across June and July.

Many top-level players agree with Rodri, including Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Now Guardiola has voiced his support, having previously slammed UEFA and warned football’s decision-makers about there simply being too many games.

“I agree that many voices are talking about the players,” the City manager declared. “If something is going to change, it must come from the players. They are the only ones who can change something. The business can be without managers, sporting directors, media and owners – but without players you cannot play. They alone have the power to do it.”

Rodri claimed in midweek that players were ‘close’ to striking, saying ahead of City’s goalless draw with Italian giants Inter Milan: “I think if you ask any player he will say the same. It is not the opinion of me 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.”

Your turn! Should players go on strike? Give us your stance in the comments section

Visionhaus/Getty Images)

When asked how many games elite footballers should play, Rodri replied: “I don’t have an exact number. 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. I think we have to take care of ourselves. Someone has to take care of ourselves because we are the main characters of this sport or business or whatever you want to call it.

“Not everything is money or marketing – it is also the quality of the show. When I am not tired I perform better and if the people want to see a better football, we need to rest.”

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

​Mirror – Sport