Footballers have been openly critical of the match calendar in recent months as club competitions and international tournaments are revamped and increased in size.
With UEFA changing the formats of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League as well as FIFA expanding its World Cup and Club World Cup, players have started to voice their concerns over what they believe is an unsustainable rise in fixtures.
Some of the game’s biggest stars have spoken out about the hectic schedule and cruelly been downed by injuries of varying significance soon after. While Rodri’s importance to Manchester City was widely reported on after he suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury, he’s not the only footballer to be recovering on the sidelines after opening up about the increased demand.
Here are some of the unlucky stars who have needed time on the treatment table lately.
Man City and Spain midfielder Rodri seemed to become an unofficial spokesperson for footballers when he took aim at the increased workload back in September.
The Euro 2024 winner revealed players are getting fed up and admitted there had even been talk of potentially striking.
He said: “Yes, I think we are close to [striking]. If it keeps this way we will have no other option. It is something that worries us.
“Between 40 and 50 is the amount of games in which a player can perform at the highest level. After that you drop because it is impossible to sustain the physical level. This year we are maybe going to go until 70 or maybe 80. In my humble opinion, I think it is too much.”
Rodri was then proven right in a horrible way as he collapsed during City’s meeting with Premier League title rivals Arsenal. He’s not expected to play again this season.
Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min has also spent time on the sidelines recently, though his knock is far less catastrophic than Rodri’s.
The South Korean admitted last month he doesn’t feel players are being looked after, with some top international players at risk of featuring in close to 85 games this season.
Speaking at a fan forum, Son said: “We can’t control it. We feel we are not being looked after when someone goes to the Euros, [has] only two weeks holiday and then back into pre-season to start the season. This is tough.
“We definitely need to make some changes, yes. What we want to see is quality games, not as many games as possible. If the games are as many as they are now, the players [will] get injured, will not perform as well and I think this is not what we want to see.
“We definitely need to change something and players need to step up and say something.”
The rebuke from the injury gods was quick once again. Son came off with a complaint in the 3-0 Europa League win over Qarabag and hasn’t been seen since, though a return is thought to be close.
Another top Premier League star, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has had his fair share of injuries in recent years. He suffered another setback before the international break, with the Brazilian not expected back fully fit until November.
Once again, the injury came shortly after the shot-stopper had highlighted the increased demand, specifically targeting the revamped Champions League which now involves eight ‘league phase’ fixtures instead of six group stage clashes.
He revealed: “Sometimes nobody asks the players what they think about adding more games so maybe our opinion does not matter. But everybody knows what we think about having more games. Everybody is tired of that.
“We are not stupid, we understand that people want more games, but the reasonable thing would be for all the people I mentioned – those who make the calendar – to sit together and listen to all the parts inclusive of the players.
“I want to give my best in all the games I play but we need a solution. It does not look like we are close to a good solution for football sake and players’ sake.”
Champions League and Euro 2024 winner Dani Carvajal might have been at risk of playing a dangerously high number of games given he plays for Real Madrid and Spain, two dominating teams in club and international football.
However, the right-back is another star who has picked up an ACL injury, with the 32-year-old’s coming late in a La Liga clash with Villarreal. He had just backed Rodri up, too.
“I think if you ask any footballer, they will tell you the same thing. It is not just Rodri’s opinion,” the Real Madrid star said.
“I think it is the opinion of the players and, if this continues, there will come a time when there is no other option. I don’t know what will happen, but it is something that worries us because we are the ones who suffer it.”
Carvajal’s contract was due to expire in the summer but Madrid have done the classy thing and extended it to 2026.
Jurrien Timber suffered an ACL injury on the opening weekend of the 2023/24 season but has thankfully got more games under his belt at the start of the current campaign. The Netherlands international admitted he’s happy to be playing after getting back into matchday contention but conceded his colleagues have a point.
He recently said: “It’s a big topic at the moment in dressing rooms, not only at City and Liverpool but also our dressing room.
“I didn’t play last season, so I’m just enjoying playing right now – you won’t hear me complaining – but I totally understand what they’re saying.”
Replying when asked if players are more in danger of fitness blows because of the calendar, the Dutchman added: “Definitely. I honestly think it’s a dangerous thing. Last week we played City and I think they played again two days later – that’s too much.”
Timber currently has a muscle problem which forced him to miss Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over Southampton before the international break but isn’t expected to be ruled out for too much longer.
