Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola emphasised on Friday that the initiative for a more balanced match schedule should be led by the players themselves.
This statement comes just days after his midfielder, Rodri, hinted that players might consider striking due to the strain of their packed game schedule.
Guardiola made these remarks ahead of his team’s upcoming match against Arsenal on Sunday, which falls in the middle of a demanding period of seven games over three weeks for the defending Premier League champions.
“Many, many voices are talking about it,” Guardiola told reporters.
“If something is going to change, it must come from the players.
The business can be without managers, without sporting directors, without media, without owners, but without the players, it cannot be played.
“It is not just Rodri (speaking out); it is many, many players, and not just in this country, but around the world people are starting to talk, so we will see.”
Guardiola was non-committal about whether Kevin de Bruyne will play on Sunday after his captain limped off at halftime of their 0-0 draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday and did not play the second half.
“He feels a bit better today. Tomorrow we’re training and we’ll see. He could be involved,” the manager said.