Manchester City midfielder Rodri believes players are inching closer to a potential strike due to the demands of the revamped football calendar.

City make their return to European action on Wednesday in the new-look Champions League consisting of a eight-game league format to replace the previous six-game group stage.

Rodri was speaking to the media about the longer fixture list and its impact on playersAFP

Pep Guardiola’s open their campaign at home to Serie A champions Inter followed by games against seven different opponents.

City have also been chosen to play in next summer’s 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, to be staged in the United States between 15 June to 13 July 2025.

The additional fixtures leave little time for rest and recuperation, a concern Rodri’s teammate Bernardo Silva has previously spoken about.

Now, the Spaniard has voiced his own unease about the demands being placed on players.

Pressed on whether players striking was a possibility in the future, Rodri replied: “I think we’re close to that.

“It’s the general opinion of the players. And if it keeps this way, we’ll have no other option, I really think… It’s something that worries us. We are the guys who suffer.”

The Euro 2024 winner was then asked what the optimum amount of games per season should be for players, to which he responded: “From my experience I can tell you that 60 or 70 – no.

“Between 40 and 50 is the amount of games in which a player can perform at the highest level. After that you drop because it is impossible to sustain the physical level.

“This year we are maybe going to go until 70 or maybe 80. In my humble opinion, I think it is too much.

City get their Champions League underway against Inter on Wednesday

Rodri scored the winner against Inter the last time the teams met as City claimed their first Champions League success

Rodri enjoyed a long holiday after helping Spain win Euro 2024 but next summer’s break looks to be a brief one due to the scheduling of the FIFA Club World CupGetty

“Someone has to take care of us because we are the main characters of this, let’s say, sport, or business, whatever you want to call it.

“Not everything is about money or marketing. It is about the quality of the show. In my opinion, when I am not tired I perform better. If people want to see better football then we need to rest.”

Ahead of Wednesday’s game against Inter, Rodri hailed the mental strength shown by his teammates in their 100 per cent start to the season.

“We try to get the machine rolling again by winning or by performing well,” he said. “I think the start of the season was great for us because the earlier you get into this run, the easier it is to continue into the season. That’s the key.”

City face Inter for the first time since the side’s met in the 2023 Champions League final in Istanbul.

Rodri was the match winner that night to hand City their first Champions League success and the midfielder admits that as nice as it was to watch the footage back as part of their preparations, time has moved on and Wednesday’s clash will present another challenge for his side.

“We were watching the 2023 UCL final yesterday, analysing Inter because they haven’t changed much the way they play,” he continued.

“It was great to see it back! This is football. It was a great time, but now life goes on, and we have another challenge and goals in our heads. We need to move on.”