Pep Guardiola has come to the defence of Rodri following his comments over potential strike action as a result of the growing football calendar.
The Spanish international suggested the other week that given the state of football and the ever-growing calendar, players within the game are not far away from considering strike action as a way of putting a stop to the physical demands placed on athletes.
“I think we are close to that,” Rodri said on Tuesday when asked whether strike action would be something placed under consideration by footballers. “If it keeps this way, it will be a moment that we have no other option, but let’s see.”
Football has been rife with conversation debating the subject in the days that have followed, with many within the game coming out in support for the Ballon d’Or favourite, implying that major governing bodies need to reassess their fixture schedules.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of Manchester City against Arsenal on Sunday, Pep Guardiola insisted that if anything is going to change within the game and the growing schedule, it must be led by the players themselves.
“Well, I agree with you, maybe for the first time, that many, many voices are talking about the players. I’m pretty sure that if something is going to change, always it must come from the players,” Guardiola explained.
“The only ones that can change something, about the organisations to take a voice and do something, because this business can be without managers, it can be without sporting directors, it can be without the media, it can be without owners, but without players? It cannot be played!”
He continued, “So, the only ones that have power to do it is them. And also I’m pretty sure they’ll do it for the justice of the game, to make it a more attractive game, and that’s the reason why.
“Not just Rodri, I think there’s many, many players not just in this country, all around the world the people are starting to talk. We will see.”
A primary example of the relentless demands placed on players can be seen through Manchester City’s own fixture schedule this weekend, as they take on Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
Just 49 hours after they take on Mikel Arteta’s side in a crunch encounter at the top of the English top-flight, Carabao Cup third round action then arrives with a clash against Watford at the Etihad Stadium scheduled for Tuesday night.
