Pep Guardiola: Players Must Lead Fixture Reform

Pep Guardiola believes that players must lead any changes to address football’s increasing fixture demands. This comes after City midfielder Rodri suggested that players are nearing the point of striking over the congested calendar. Guardiola emphasized that while the business of football can function without managers or owners, it cannot continue without players, who alone have the power to enact change.

Rodri’s comments echo concerns raised by Fifpro, the global players’ union which has threatened legal action against Fifa over the excessive number of matches. Fifpro’s report recommended players play a maximum of 50-60 matches per season, depending on their age to protect their welfare. However, some clubs could face up to 76 games this season due to commitments in multiple tournaments including the expanded Club World Cup.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca and Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany both agreed with Guardiola’s sentiments. Maresca said the current number of matches is “completely wrong” and supported the idea of players taking a stand, potentially through strike action. Meanwhile, Kompany advocated for an annual cap on the number of games each player can participate in, along with compulsory rest periods to safeguard players’ health.

Borussia Dortmund manager Nuri Sahin believes the situation is critical, stating that talk of strikes signals a crisis in player welfare. Similarly, Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois and Liverpool’s Alisson Becker expressed concerns about the balance between entertaining fans and protecting players from burnout.

While the issue has been debated by managers like Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola for years, little has changed and the pressure continues to mount as players struggle with relentless schedules.