Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes the only way to reduce the number of games on the football calendar is for the players to go on strike.
Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has attributed recent injuries to his squad to an “expanding” calendar and “big overload”, while Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has called for a cap on the number of appearances a player can make the player in a season.
Pep Guardiola, who has previously said that UEFA and FIFA are “killing the players” by adding extra games to the schedule, believes the only way to change this is for the stars of the teams themselves to take action, citing the example of the women’s match in Spain, where the strike helped force change within the Federation and raised the minimum wage.
“There is only one solution to change something, maybe if all the players decide by themselves to say ‘stop’, then you have to change something,” said Guardiola. “And then FIFA, UEFA might react a bit.
“In this business, the show must go on. Without Pep, it goes on, but without the players, the show won’t go on. But it’s up to them if they decide,” added the Catalan coach.
We remind you that the Spanish international women, after winning the World Cup, signed a letter announcing their intention to boycott the country’s Nations League matches and demanded changes in the Federation after the scandal caused by the non-consensual kiss of Luis Rubiales to Jenny Hermoso, while Liga F’s first matchday was canceled as players campaigned for better working conditions and pay.
“Look at Spain with the women’s team, the players decided to change something and they changed it. Something changed because the players decided they had the means to protect the players and the future of the teams for the new generations. The greatest legacy is this. The women’s teams in Spain have done it, I don’t know if they will do it in men’s world football. “
Guardiola also said his biggest concern with the men’s football calendar is the lack of downtime afforded to players. “I like to play football games, it’s just that when there is a break there must be the right break,” he added.
“This is my opinion. I always use the NBA as an example. They play 80 games in a few months, but after that, they have four months off, or three months off if they don’t play the finals […]. I know I’m not going to influence anyone, but I think it should be the players. If the players want to change something in football, they are the only ones who can do it.”
