Pep Guardiola throws his support behind players...

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Published Time: 21.09.2024 - 00:41:47 Modified Time: 21.09.2024 - 00:41:47

City manager says only way congested fixture schedule can be addressed is if players act and warns ‘they are starting to talk’ Pep Guardiola has thrown his support behind the prospect of leading players going on strike over the increasingly punishing schedule

City manager says only way congested fixture schedule can be addressed is if players act and warns: ‘they are starting to talk’

Pep Guardiola has thrown his support behind the prospect of leading players going on strike over the increasingly punishing schedule.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri claimed this week that the game’s top stars were close to strike action amid concerns about the congested calendar.

City could play a maximum of 75 games this season as a result of the expansion of the Champions League and the new Club World Cup next summer.

With international matches on top, it is possible for some players to be facing up to 85 matches this term and Rodri said it was reaching a point where they may be left with no option but to refuse to play in protest.

Guardiola has stated previously that the players are the only people with the power to force change and offered them his backing.

“I agree… that many voices are talking about the players. If something is going to change, always it must come from the players,” the City manager said ahead of Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash at home to Arsenal.

“They are the only ones who can change something. It’s about the organisation to take a voice and do something. The business can be without managers, it can be without the sporting directors, it can be without the media, it can be without owners but without the players it cannot be played.

“So the only people who have the power to do it is them. I’m also pretty sure they’d do it to adjust their game, to be a more attractive game and that’s the reason why not just Rodri but many, many players — and not just in this country but I would say all around the world — are starting to talk. We will see.”

Guardiola admits advantage over Arsenal

Guardiola admitted City had an “advantage” over Arsenal going into this weekend’s game given the extra rest time his side have been afforded.

Whereas City were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Inter Milan on Wednesday night, Arsenal faced Atalanta in Bergamo on Thursday evening and then had to travel home to the UK from Italy.

Guardiola acknowledged it was a benefit to his team but said there had been a plethora of occasions when the shoe was on the other foot and City were the team at an disadvantage in the wake of Champions League ties.

“It’s an advantage but I could make a list of the last six years of how many times we were in this position of disadvantage against tough opponents when we have less days of recovery,” he said. “I have a huge list to show you but of course it is a little bit of an advantage.”

Kevin De Bruyne was substituted at half-time against Inter through injury but Guardiola said he would await more fitness reports before deciding whether to include the Belgium midfielder in his squad against Arsenal.

“He feels a little bit better today but we have not yet had training and we will see,” Guardiola said. “He could be involved.”

Rodri claimed City won the title ahead of Arsenal last season because they have a stronger mentality and that the sight of Mikel Arteta’s team effectively playing for a draw at the Etihad in March convinced him of as much. “I don’t think we would do it the same way,” the Spain midfielder said.

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