Bayern Munich coach, Vincent Kompany and his Bayern Leverkusen counterpart, Xabi Alonso, joined the growing chorus calling for action on player workload, amid talks of strikes.
Kompany proposed a cap on the number of games a player can play each year, while Alonso advocated for greater player involvement in fixture calendar decisions.
At a press conference ahead of Saturday’s trip to Werder Bremen, Kompany stated that “it was already a theme during my (playing) career” and referred to it as “a very important topic.”
This year’s Champions League adds fixtures while FIFA’s expanded 32-team Club World Cup will take place this summer, a time when players would normally have a break from games. Top clubs with European and domestic cup commitments could play up to 75 games this season.
“To play 75, 80 games, it gets to a point where it’s not realistic any more.
“The solution I’ve always wanted is to put a cap on the amount of games a player can play as an individual. Put a cap, put a compulsory period of holidays (for players),” he said.
Rodri, the current midfield general of Manchester City where Kompany spent many years as a player, said on Tuesday, the “general opinion of the players” was that “we are close to a strike.”
“If it keeps going this way, there will be a time when there’s no other option,” the Spaniard added.
Speaking to reporters prior to Leverkusen’s league match against Wolfsburg on Sunday, Alonso said, “I understand Rodri and the other players. Professional players must be involved in these decisions because we want to see good football.
“The schedule is very tight. They have to be heard.” Kompany has previously spoken out on the issue and was a member of the FIFPro players union during his time on the pitch, where he captained Manchester City and the Belgian national team. Goalkeepers Alisson Becker of Liverpool and Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid have made similar statements in recent days.
The 38-year-old said the cap would be “the best of both worlds” as it would “take away the pressure on the clubs.”
He also said the model should “always include exceptions for finals — we can’t take that away from players.”
Kompany promised squad rotations in the coming weeks as Bayern manages midweek football commitments.
“We are talking about a crowded schedule and stress on the players. Our squad is not a luxury, we need it to achieve our goals,” he said.
Manuel Neuer, the veteran captain and goalkeeper for Bayern, was substituted off at halftime of Tuesday’s 9-2 victory over Dinamo Zagreb after he fell on his back.
The coach stated that a decision about Neuer’s fitness to play Bremen “would be made after training.” Bayern “did not want to take any unnecessary risks,” but Kompany added that “it looks good (for Neuer).”
Written by Jennifer Amarachi
