Exhausted Soccer Players Engage in a Labor Action
Following the Champions League opening match, Vincent Kompany, Xabi Alonso, and Nuri Sahin voiced concerns about the excessive burden on players. Midfielder Rodri of Manchester City even suggested a strike and gained support from his coach.
For Sahin, it represents "time running out," Kompany insists on a limited number of games, and Alonso even advocates for professional players to have a say. After the initial matchday of the revamped Champions League, complaints about the increasing pressure on players have resurfaced. A strike, like the one Rodri suggested, is also being contemplated.
"If players are talking about strikes, it means 'time running out'," Sahin commented, drawing from his colleagues Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola's long-standing concerns: "Jürgen and Pep have been complaining about this for years, and nothing has changed. I feel like the more we talk about it, the more we play."
Rodri argued that he'd have to participate in "around 70 or 80 games" due to the new Champions League format and the reconstructed Club World Cup. Guardiola echoed his protégé's stance on Friday, conceding a strike was a possibility. "Players are talking about this all over the world, we'll see," said City's manager.
"That's close to impossible"
"40 to 50 games" would be the most for him, Rodri explained, beyond that "the quality diminishes." Kompany, Bayern's coach, concurred. "As a player, I've already advocated for a maximum number of games a player should play," said the Belgian.
During his active playing days at Manchester City, Kompany pointed out, the problem became evident, especially having to play in addition to national team commitments. "It's 75, 80 games. That's almost impossible." A maximum number seems desirable under these circumstances.
Alonso shares a similar perspective. Players should be involved in the decision-making process about the number of games, the Spanish coach opined: "They should be part of these decisions. We want to see high-quality football." Is a strike imminent? "Rodri has every right to hold this view," Alonso conceded.
Different Point of View
However, not everyone shares the same perspective. "I'm enjoying the numerous midweek games. I don't see a maximum number," Leipzig's David Raum stated theoretically. The Swiss CIES institute also published a study revealing no indications of increased player fatigue. As per the study, examining the top 50 performers in terms of combined game minutes per season, "the overall trend for the past three seasons compared to any three-year period since 1999/2000 indicates a further decrease."
But the outcry is considerably loud - in every major football nation. Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker was one of the leading voices, expressing dissatisfaction with the numerous appearances before the Champions League clash with AC Milan earlier this week. Ultimately, his thigh injury left his participation in the subsequent match against Bournemouth uncertain.
In response to the concerns raised by Vincent Kompany and others, soccer players are considering a strike to decrease the excessive burden of games. Rodri, a midfielder from Manchester City, argued that the new Champions League format and Club World Cup would require him to play around 70 to 80 games, which he believes significantly affects quality.
