Players could go on strike over the amount of games they are required to play, Rodri warned on the eve of Manchester City's Champions League opener versus Inter. (More Football News)
The 2024-25 edition of the Champions League will be the ♑first to use a new format featuring 36 teams, with each side now required to play eight group-stage games, rather than six.
Meanwhile, City will be one of 32 teamsꦗ to take part in FIFA's expanded Club World Cup at the end of the season, a tournament that has drawn stern criticism from many within the game.
City navigated 61 games when winning the treble two seasons ago buꦓt could be set for a far more rigorous schedule this term, leaving Rodri to warn a players' strike could lie ahead.
"I think we're close to that [striking]," Rodri told reporters. "It's the general opinion of the players, and if it keeps this wa🦩y, we'll have no other option.
"I really think🉐 it's something that worries us. We are the guys🃏 who suffer."
Theဣ optimal number of games "in which a player can perform at the highest level," the Spaniard added, is "between 40 and 50".
"After that, you drop because it'🙈s impossible to sustain the physical level," he added. "This year, we're going to go until 70, maybe 80, depends😼 on how far you go into competitions.
"I think it's too much. We have to take care of ourselves, because we are the m🌃ain characters of this sport or business.ꦏ
"Not everything is money or marketing, it is also the quality of the show. When I rest, when I'm not tired, I 💧perform better. And if people want to see better footbal꧒l, we need to rest."
Last season, the 28-year-old's campaign extended through to Spain's Euro 2024 final victory on July 14, as did those of City tea🧜m-mates Kyle Walker, John Stones and Phil Foden, who finished as runners-up with England.
City defender Manuel A💃kanji recently joked he may have to retire at 30 because of the gruelling schedule.
";It's 💖so tough," the defender said. "You don't just think about this season, but also ꦓnext season.
"Let's say we winꦐ the league or cup, then go to the final of the Club World Cup; the Community Shield is three🔥 weeks after. When do we have holidays?"
On Wednesday, City h෴ost Inter in a repeat of the 2023 Champions League fin🐎al, won by the English side courtesy of Rodri's strike.
City forward Erling Haalan𓆏d is eyeing a piece of history as he could overtake Cristiano Ronaldo as the fastest player to reach 100 goals for a single club, having scored 99 goals in 103 appearances in all competitions, including nine in four league games this season.꧟ Ronaldo netted 100 in his first 105 matches for Real Madrid.
"I played for 11 years😼 and scored 11 goals. This guy, in four games he's scored nine," boss Pep Guardiola said with a❀ laugh.
"✃The opponents will find a solution, and we have to find a solution to beat them, to 🥃find a way."
