Not everyone is loving the new Champions League format, especially the players.
“For the supporters, amazing. But sometimes nobody asks the players what they think about adding more games…,” says Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.
“Maybe our opinion doesn’t matter at all.”
So far, he’s right. Games continue to stack up, and players continue to get injured. Over the last international break, Arsenal lost two key players — Martin Odeggard and Riccardo Calafiori. This week, they’ll be missing both ahead of Arsenal’s UCL opener against Atalanta.
The increase in teams from 32 to 36 in the Champions League format also sees a substantial rise in games, from 125 to 189.
Considering the high demand, Manchester City ace Rodri reveals that players are “close” to going on strike.
“I think we are close to that – it is easy to understand,” he 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.”
So, what is the ideal number of matches to play per season?
Leave it to the well-spoken, and Ballon d’Or nominated Rodri to chime in. He’s yet to start a Premier League match this season, getting two months off after a rigorous 23/24 season and busy summer with Euro champions Spain.
“I don’t have an exact number,” said the 28-year-old Spaniard.
“From my experience I can tell you that 60-70 [is no good]. Between 40 and 50 is the amount of games in which a player can perform in 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. It is too much. 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.”
Meanwhile, Rodri’s Norwegian teammate Erling Haaland is booming again this season. His international side didn’t compete in the Euros, giving the forward ample time to rest ahead of the City 24/25 season.
The so-called robot already has three Premier League hat-tricks in four games this season. He’s bound to break Alan Shearer’s Premier League hat-trick record for one season.
Even Guardiola admitted to the advantages of rest. “The difference this season is that after niggles, and tiredness in his body, this season he feels better,” said Pep. “So far he feels clean, good here [in his head]… But game, game, game, I don’t know what will happen in two or three months time.”
Can football maintain its quality and player well-being amid this relentless push for more games?
