Yahoo Sports Liverpool European champion fires back at Rodri over player strike claims
Fixture congestion is becoming a big problem in football and players from around the Premier League have openly criticised the increased number of matches this season.
Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson Becker discussed the issue in the Reds’ pre-match press conference ahead of their UEFA Champions League return, criticising competition organisers for not consulting players before making format changes.
This sentiment was echoed by Manchester City’s Rodri, who spoke to the media ahead of City’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan.
During this press conference, the City man warned that the players could be close to going on strike.
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“I think we are close to that – it is easy to understand," the Spaniard said. “If you ask any player he will say the same; it is not the opinion of Rodri or whatever. 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. It’s something that worries us because we are the guys that suffer.”
This suggestion has drawn a mixed reaction from the footballing world, but one Liverpool legend can’t get behind Rodri’s statement.
Mark Lawrenson disregards Rodri's plea
Speaking to Paddy Power, via Liverpool.com, the former Red said: “With Rodri’s comments about players striking because of the number of games, I don’t think he has a point.
“These players do play a lot of games, but they earn a fortune, travel the world on private jets and their respective clubs do all they can so the players aren’t weary.”
Lawrenson made 356 appearances for Liverpool between 1981 and 1988, winning five league titles and a European Cup during his time at Anfield.
“There are too many games, but we’ve been saying this for years and I remember one season at Liverpool where six of us played more than 60 games, but you just get on with it because it’s your job.
“In my day, you’d never go up to the manager to tell him that you were tired, you’d just look for your name on the team sheet and get playing.”
The inflated fixture list
The changes to the format of the Champions League mean that every team will play at least two more matches than they would have done previously, and the addition of an extra round means that some teams could play four matches more than they would have done before.
The introduction of the UEFA Nations League in the past few seasons also sees an increase in the number of competitive games that international sides are playing.
Liverpool could play a maximum of 67 matches this season if they were to reach the final of the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup and the Champions League via the longest route.
Due to the FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield Manchester City could play a maximum of 76 games this season.
The point that Alisson and Rodri are making is easy to see, and the ever-increasing number of matches that players must compete in could force some drastic action.
The increasingly congested fixture list also highlights how key squad depth and rotation could become over the coming seasons and only time will tell whether competition organisers will listen to the demands of players and stop increasing the number of fixtures.
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