- Rodri said players might have “no choice” but to strike if there are no changes
- Pep Guardiola senses that the mood among players like Rodri is serious
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Pep Guardiola has warned football authorities that it would be a mistake to dismiss possible strike rumours involving his Manchester City talisman Rodri and other top stars.
Rodri’s claim that players are closer than ever to striking due to increasing fixture congestion has been dismissed as scaremongering.
But Guardiola – a long-time advocate of player welfare – senses the mood is serious.
“I’m pretty sure that if something is going to change, it has to come from the players and there are a lot of voices speaking out,” he said.
‘They are the only ones who can change the organisation (of the parties) by speaking up and doing something.
Pep Guardiola (right) has urged football authorities to take Rodri’s (left) strike warning seriously
Rodri’s (left) claim has been dismissed by some outsiders as scaremongering.
Rodri could play as many as 73 games in an action-packed campaign for the Premier League champions
‘The business can function without managers, sporting directors, owners and the media, but without players you can’t play. The only ones who have the power to do so are them.’
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson complained last week that players were not being consulted over further Champions League games and Rodri, who is due to play for City at the Club World Cup next summer, went further, saying players might have “no choice” but to strike without changes.
Guardiola agrees that matches lose their appeal if players are fatigued. “That’s why not just Rodri, but many players are doing it.”
“I would say that not only in this country, but all over the world, people are starting to talk. We’ll see.”
Guardiola will monitor Kevin De Bruyne in training before deciding whether he will face Arsenal on Sunday in a clash between the Premier League’s top two.
The Belgian was substituted at half-time against Inter Milan on Wednesday evening due to a knock.
Arsenal have been City’s closest rivals in the last two of their four consecutive title-winning seasons.
“They do a lot of good things, pressing high, defending deep, in transition,” said Guardiola, who predicts another difficult afternoon for Erling Haaland, who failed to score against the Gunners in three appearances last season.
Guardiola said it was up to the players to change the organisation of the matches by expressing their opinion
“Saliba and Gabriel are incredibly focused on Erling all the time,” said the City boss. “It’s not one-on-one, it’s always two-on-one or three-on-one. That’s why it’s difficult to attack them.”
‘Set pieces are not easy because they are taller than us and are very strong defensively, they accumulate a lot of players.
‘That’s why I have to read carefully the way we have to do it.’
