Man City's Rodri Says Players Are 'Close' to Striking Due to Increasing Fixture Demands

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has warned that players are “close” to going on strike due to the increasing demands placed on them.

The comments come amid a growing backlash against the congested fixture list, which has seen players forced to play multiple games in a short space of time.

Rodri, who has played in 37 games for City this season, spoke out after his side's 4-1 win over Burnley on Tuesday night.

The Spaniard said that players are "at the limit" and that they are "close" to taking action.

"We are close to a strike, I have to say," Rodri said. "We are at the limit. We cannot play more games. We need more rest."

Rodri's comments are the latest in a series of complaints from players about the fixture list.

In December, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said that the fixture list was "killing" players.

And in February, Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea said that players were being "used like robots".

The fixture list has become increasingly congested in recent years due to the introduction of new competitions, such as the UEFA Nations League and the FIFA Club World Cup.

This has led to players having to play more games in a shorter space of time, which has increased the risk of injury and burnout.

The Premier League has recently announced that it will be introducing a winter break from 2023-24, which will give players a much-needed rest.

However, Rodri believes that this is not enough and that players need more rest.

"We need a proper break," Rodri said. "We need to stop playing so many games. We need to protect the players."