Atletico Madrid coach, Diego Pablo Simeonespoke this Wednesday about the excessive load of matches in the calendar, with little rest and which costs many injuries at the beginning of the season. El Cholo urges the players to call for a strike, because he believes that the “only ones who can generate direct change” on this subject, They are “the footballers, because they are the ones who play the ball”.
“Only footballers can change that. because they are the ones who manage everything. We are all here to support“Try to manage, but the only ones who can generate a direct change are the footballers, because they are the ones who play the ball,” Simeone replied at the press conference the day before facing Celta in Balaídos.
He Atletico Madrid Simeone faces his eighth match in just over a month this Thursday, and they still have another to play this weekend. Add to that the two international matches that some players played in early September. The match load is excessive and many players have already sounded the alarm in recent weeks.
He number of knee injuries In this first month of competition it is quite high, go 29. This scourge has spread to all five major leagues. The latest to fall were Rodrigo Hernández and Ter Stegen, who will be out for virtually the rest of the 2024-25 season. In fact, it was the Manchester City midfielder who sounded the alarm by announcing that the players were considering going on strike due to the number of games in progress. The season could last a total of 11 months with a maximum of 72 games if they play everything, and Simeone urged the players to go ahead with the idea of the strike.
Rodri gave the first warning
Rodri Hernandezone of the best footballers in the world, has expressed a demand that is gaining more and more strength in the locker rooms of football teams. “We are about to strike”said the Manchester City player, one of the captains of the Spanish team. The reason is clear: footballers are exposed to a long and busy schedule, full of matches, and at some point they will have to stop.
Ahead of Manchester City’s first game in the new Champions League, Rodri has spoken out against the way the competitions’ owners – in this case UEFA – are crushing footballers. “From my experience, I can say that playing 60 or 70 games is not optimal“A player can be able to be at the highest level if he plays between 40 and 50 games, then his performances will drop,” commented the Spanish midfielder.
The players’ anger is serious and Rodri Hernandez has openly spoken of going on strike in the future. “I think we’re close to getting there.”responded when asked by a reporter what the footballers could do to end the busy schedule and whether those measures included a strike.
Carvajal also raised his voice
Daniel Carvajal He got serious before the European Super Cup when asked about the schedule. He the real Madrid The season would not end until July 14, if he played in the Club World Cup final, his season lasting a total of 11 months, after a maximum of 72 games. The Real Madrid full-back did not hold his tongue and complained about the enormous workload of matches and travel, to which must be added the international breaks, during which footballers travel with their national teams.
“It makes no sense. It is impossible for us to maintain the level. We can’t play 72 games“The competent bodies must analyse this. The matches are dropping in level and we and our families are suffering,” stressed the Real Madrid full-back.
