Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola has intimated that only industrial action will see football halted in its interminable march to chase money through increasing its offering.
City have just lost star midfielder Kevin de Bruyne to an injury likely to keep him out for several months, which will no doubt have a major impact on their season, plans and not to mention the player himself.
Speaking to Movistar+ ahead of the European Supercup clash with Sevilla, Guardiola lamented the fact that there was barely any break for footballers these days.
“The seasons are continuous, there are no more holidays.”
“They make you go to Asia, to the United States, they make you play very strong matches, and people go down and will continue to to go down. The show must go on and if De Bruyne is not there, another will come. If Courtois is not there, they have already signed Kepa. If Militao is not there, there will be another.”
“On top of that they are adding more minutes onto the games, games of 110, 120 minuites. At the end of the season, we won’t have played 38 games, we will have played 43. Then FIFA is adding more games at the World Cup.”
Guardiola was previously asked whether he saw any scope for change.
“It’s a lost battle until, until the players stop and say we’re not playing any more.”
“There’s nothing else for it, not FIFA, not UEFA, there’s nothing else that can be done. And on top of it all, we keep adding more minutes. 10, 11 minutes onto the game.”
“Imagine a game where one team is wasting time, wasting time all game until it goes 1-0 (to the other team). Then that team has 15 extra minutes to get the winner. Does it make sense? No.”
“They will look for more, but they have to look for quality. The players will play as they are, but they have to be fresh.”
Certainly it is hard to argue any of the points that Guardiola has made. Thibaut Courtois has been one of the most vocal about the heavy schedule affecting players, and missed around two months of action last season through injury, before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament at the start of this campaign. Whether players would feel powerful enough to unionise is up for debate, with agents and governing bodies encouraging them to keep going.
DeBaPoulie
1
Teachers, Engineers, and all those employees from essential disciplines don't complain as much as footballers. These huge salaries are making them coky. Let's cap them salaries to 1k pound per week and find out
Chul3
1
when Courtois said this alot of fans criticized him, Called him names and all that. Will have alot of injuries going forward 🤦🤦
fuebcinpsz
0
But the extra minutes added are for both teams why this ranting ok I can see cause you lost against that small London Fc(Arsenal).
Stickle
0
very poorly thought out comment. no matter how much you paid your body can only do so much. that doesn't change. footballers are also on the labour side of the equation just like everyone else. be made at the owners not other workers who earn more
Then managers have a responsibility to rest players more and owners have a responsibility to keep a deep bench. We are really only talking about the big successful clubs, and they have the money to do what I am suggesting. All the other clubs only play once a week most of the season.
Lizzo
0
None of us get holiday time, and we all make pennies. Footballers are paid millions to do what they do. Not sure how sorry for them I feel. Just do like Neymar and Pogba. Fake injuries so you can get paid full wages to sit the bench and rest.
What work do you do that's going to give you injury? For players, being in good physical condition is important to perform and entertain. It's different from a 9-5 job. And if you want millions then just be a successful footballer, who's stopping you?
Mariolemaux10
0
None of us get holiday time, and we all make pennies. Footballers are paid millions to do what they do. Not sure how sorry for them I feel. Just do like Neymar and Pogba. Fake injuries so you can get paid full wages to sit the bench and rest.
very poorly thought out comment. no matter how much you paid your body can only do so much. that doesn't change. footballers are also on the labour side of the equation just like everyone else. be made at the owners not other workers who earn more
SURFASASFUC
0
Pep having been a Player and longtime successful Manager is the smartest Man in Football.
Sadek85
0
if Klopp had said this it would have create pandemonium but the savior has said it
The difference is kloop only speak when results go against him
Stickle
4
None of us get holiday time, and we all make pennies. Footballers are paid millions to do what they do. Not sure how sorry for them I feel. Just do like Neymar and Pogba. Fake injuries so you can get paid full wages to sit the bench and rest.
yapciopt
1
Teams are encouraged to have a depth squad for this very reason, they have added the number of substitutes per game, recent past a lot of investment have been made into football, players are being payee unbelievable wages to compensate their hard work, it’s only right to demand more from the players..
ruzadlnsy
1
many games will help our grand pa ancelotti to learn how to rotate the squad like zidane do
veecmpsuz
0
if Klopp had said this it would have create pandemonium but the savior has said it
difference is that if klopp said it, it would’ve been right after a loss or draw
veecmpsuz
0
he’s right but it won’t happen
ndabawubafo
1
He's very right
Wiabeloptz
1
if Klopp had said this it would have create pandemonium but the savior has said it