As the new football season approaches, Manchester City is preparing for another marathon of matches.
City players have just received their schedules, and it looks like they’re in for a whirlwind of activity. Ruben Dias, a key defender for the team, recently shared a glimpse of the daunting calendar on social media.
His post, featuring a screenshot of the packed schedule and a sweating emoji, highlights just how relentless the coming months will be.
Ruben Dias had an intense schedule last season, playing 45 games for City and another seven for Portugal.
It looks like he’s in for another demanding run as Manchester City is expected to compete vigorously across multiple tournaments.
With Pep Guardiola at the helm, the team is likely to be in the thick of action on several fronts again.
FIFA has been warned that players might resort to drastic measures if the issue of congested schedules isn’t addressed. Despite these concerns, the upcoming season seems poised to push players to their limits, with fixtures looking almost as packed as previous years.
Dias took to X (formerly Twitter) to give fans a peek at the grueling schedule.
His post included a color-coded calendar showing Premier League games in green, Champions League fixtures in purple, and flags for Carabao Cup and FA Cup matches, along with international breaks. The expanded Club World Cup next June is also on the list.
Guardiola’s Call for Change
Pep Guardiola has been vocal about the need for changes in the football calendar.
He’s expressed frustration over the brief break between seasons, which he believes is harmful.
Guardiola argues that while playing frequently isn’t an issue, the lack of recovery time between seasons is problematic.
“I’m against the lack of time to recover from year to year,” Guardiola said. “It’s really tough to finish the season, have just three weeks off, and then immediately start again. This is especially tough for players, and I think things need to change.”
Potential for Strike Action
The growing concern over player fatigue has led FIFPRO, the players’ union, to suggest that strike action might be considered if FIFA doesn’t address the issue.
David Terrier, FIFPRO’s Europe president, has highlighted the urgent need to manage mental and physical strain by capping the number of games.
A recent FIFPRO review revealed alarming statistics: over 50% of players surveyed admitted they had played while injured, and 82% of managers had put players on the field despite knowing they needed rest.
Last season, several high-profile managers, including Jurgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag, voiced their frustrations over the punishing schedules and the resultant injuries.
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