Manchester City's Rodri has warned players about the volume of the game hitting too high

Rodri says that while players are closer to hitting the mark on increasing number of games, the Manchester City midfielder believes that 40-50 matches a season is the optimal amount. City host Inter in their Champions League opener on Wednesday, with the competition extended by two games a team in the new league format.

Rodri is yet to start for City after nearly two months out since winning the Euro 2024 final with Spain on July 14, his 63rd appearance last term. Next June, the month-long inaugural 32-club FIFA Club World Cup is set to begin, adding to the workload as City participate in the Premier League alongside Chelsea. City players can play a maximum of 85 games, including internationals.

The 28-year-old was asked if going on strike was an option to try to reduce the claim. “I think we're close to it — it's easy to understand,” he said. “If you ask any player he will say the same; It's not Rodri's opinion or whatever. This is the general opinion of the players. And if this continues, there will come a point where we have no choice. It's something that worries us because we're the guys who suffer.”

Rodrigo was asked the optimal amount. “I don't have exact numbers,” he said. “From my experience I can tell you that 60-70 [is no good]. Between 40 and 50 is the amount of games a player can perform at the highest level. After that you drop because the physical level is impossible to sustain.

“This year we could go 70, maybe 80, I don't know. It depends on how far you go in the competition. It's too much. We have to take care of ourselves. Someone has to take care of themselves because we are the protagonists of this game or business or whatever you want to call it.

“It's not all about money or marketing, it's about the quality of the show. I perform better when I'm not tired and if people want to watch better football, we have to rest.”

Liverpool's Allison echoes Rodri's sentiments on the eve of their Champions League clash with Milan. “No one asks the players what they think about adding more games, so maybe our opinion doesn't matter,” the goalkeeper said. “But everyone knows what we think about more games. Everyone is tired of it.”

The Professional Footballers' Association said: “The players and their unions have asked to be a central part of these processes and to be heard. When they are ignored the natural consequence is that players will begin to consider all the options available to them. The players have been saying repeatedly that enough is enough and this will now serve as a serious wake-up call to the authorities.”

Erling Haaland had a summer break as Norway failed to qualify for Euro 2024 but returned for training on 15 July and the Club World Cup final on 13 July 2025. The striker scored nine goals in City's first four Premier League matches, making it. 99 in 103 matches for the club.

Pep Guardiola first joked about him improving more than he could say. “If you tell me he scores another 99 goals in the next 100 games, that's fine,” the manager said. “The more games he plays at this club, naturally he will improve.”