Manchester City defender Rúben Dias has added his voice to the growing concerns around the number of games players are being forced to play in the modern game.
O Jogo cover comments from the Manchester City centre-back today in which he makes it clear he’ ready for an extreme situation to force the authorities hands.
There is a growing concern and disillusionment among the world’s players over an increasingly busy schedule that has players at the top of the game hitting 70 games a year comfortably for club and country.
That’s certainly the case for the likes of Ruben Dias, who plays in every competition with Manchester City and for his country.
For instance, he’ll be a part of the group travelling to the newly formatted Club World Cup next summer, a new tournament that has added even more games to a busy schedule.
Dias has seen that happen to Manchester City teammate Rodri this season and insists the current situation is “well beyond normal”.
“To perform better, it is necessary to ensure that athletes are safe, but few care about the athletes, but rather the financial aspect and profit,” he said.
“This season especially will be the craziest yet, with the Club World Cup at the end of the season. We have to think about the players if we want to put on a good show, giving ourselves enough time to recharge our batteries and put on the best show.
“In the past, we had a normal number of games. We are now well beyond that normal. We have to focus the issue on the athletes, as we are the ones who play. We realizs the industry we have around us, but it’s our bodies that are in question. We need to rest and breathe.
“If it has to be, it is important that we are all together and do it together, like another extreme situation. If we have to raise our voice and go on strike, we will do so.”
