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 f🗹eaturing 36 teams, with each side now required to play eight group-stage games, rather than six.
Meanwhile, City will be one of 32 teams t♑o 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 but could be set for a far more rigoౠrous 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 th🥃is way, we'll have no other option.
"I really think it's s🎉omething that worries us🌠. We are the guys who suffer."
The optimꦆal number of games "in which a player can perform at the highest level," the Spaniard added, is "between 4🍃0 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 ൲far you go into competitions.
"I think it's too much. We have to take care of ourselves, because we are the main chওaracter൲s of this sport or business.
"Not everything is money or marketing, it is also the quality of the sh🍌ow. When I rest, when I'm not tired, I perform better. And if people want to🌳 see better football, we need to rest."
Last season, the 28-year-old's campaign extended through to Spain's Euro 2024 final vi𝓰ctory on July 14, as did thﷺose of City team-mates Kyle Walker, John Stones and Phil Foden, who finished as runners-up with England.
City defender Manuel Akanji recentl🐽y joked h☂e may have to retire at 30 because of the gruelling schedule.
"It's so tough," the defende🎐r said. "You don't just think๊ about this season, but also next season.
"🃏;Let's say we win 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 ho♋lidays?"
On Wednesday, Ci𒁃ty host Inter in a repeat of the 2023 Champions League final, won by the English side courtesy of Rodri's strike.
City forward Erling Haaland 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 appearan💙ces 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 gꦚuy, in four games he's scored nine," boss Pep Guardiola said with a laugh.
"The oppo🌠♏nents will find a solution, and we have to find a solution to beat them, to find a way."
