Liverpool star Andy Robertson has joined the chorus of high-profile players criticising the current worldwide football calendar, calling for better consultation from governing bodies.
The Scotland captain expressed frustration over the lack of dialogue regarding the additional fixtures being crammed into an already-packed schedule.
This season, the new format of the Champions League will see teams playing two extra matches, while a revamped Club World Cup will feature 32 teams for the first time next summer.
Chelsea and Manchester City, winners of the European Cup in 2021 and 2023 respectively, are set to participate in the tournament, which will take place in the USA between June 15 and July 13 next year.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker voiced his concerns about the demanding schedule before the Champions League clash with AC Milan earlier this month.
Manchester City’s Rodri also shared his worries about player welfare, especially after suffering an ACL injury during the first half of Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on September 22.
A recent study by global union FIFPro highlighted the “red line” for players’ welfare, indicating that the optimal number of matches should range between 50 and 60 per season, depending on age.
The study also recommended a mandatory three-week break during the summer.
This 59-page report was released shortly before Rodri suggested that some players might consider striking over the increased workload.
On Monday, Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber echoed Rodri’s concerns, stating that the overwhelming number of fixtures poses a serious risk to player safety.
Timber described the situation as a “dangerous thing,” a sentiment shared by Andy Robertson, who is dissatisfied with the minimal input players have in shaping the modern game.
“I don’t think the players are ever asked,” Andy Robertson said.
“I think that’s where our frustrations lie.
“We all love playing football. We love playing games.
“That’s what we work so hard towards.
“As I speak, we’ve got a game in a few days’ time at Anfield in the Champions League (against Bologna on Wednesday night).
“It’s one of the best games to be involved in. But extra games get added. Extra tournaments get added and I just don’t think players get asked what their opinion of it is and how we feel about it.
“That’s where the frustration lies with us.
“These organisations just put on extra games and tournaments and we’re never asked. That’s frustrating.
“It doesn’t seem we have much of a say in it. We just get put out there.
“We always want to put on a show for the fans. We always want people to get value for money.
“We know how important fans are to football.
“When lads are getting overworked or whatever, sometimes you can’t do that.
“We’ll keep doing it. We’ve got no real option.
“We’ll let other people discuss it.
“We’ll let other people try to help us out but, like I say, when games are put in front of us, when you are in the changing room you don’t think about it.
“You get excited by it. You just go out and play your heart out and that’s all we can do.
“But, in the future, I think it would be best to get the players together and ask their opinion as well.
“Whatever [the governing bodies] think [can help].
“There are a lot of experienced professionals, captains who can have a say on these things.
“They are never asked. Just asking players or managers, it’s always wise to ask the people who can feel it, week-to-week instead of people sitting in offices.”
Andy Robertson added: “So far, so good [this season]. We don’t leave any stone unturned.
“The staff have been really good at making us prepared for every single game, making sure we are as fresh as possible.
“It’s the start of a hectic period for us.
“We’ve got games every three days and it won’t end until god-knows-when.
“Let’s see how we are in the months to come when it really ramps up.
“It’s never easy when you come here (to Wolves). I think we have always had difficult afternoons here.
“I can’t think of an easy afternoon that we’ve had. I think we could have played better.
“It’s all about the result. I think we deserve the points in the end.
“Obviously, it could have been more controlled.
“We tried to control it as much as we could.
“We knew we didn’t have to score another goal but it was more important to keep them out and yeah, I think the lads worked incredibly hard up top to secure that and try to make us defensively solid still and yes, you know a wee bit more control of the ball and try to tire them out a little.
“I thought we were defensively solid until [Wolves scored].
“Then we make a mistake and get punished for it. That’s what that league does.
“But it’s so important to come back quickly because then they’d go into a lower block and try to hit us quickly on the counter-attack.
“So important to bounce back quickly.
“I think we controlled it pretty well after that.”
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