Football

Courtois backs Rodri's call for a potential players' strike

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has backed Manchester City midfielder Rodri, who has raised the prospect of a players' strike.

The midfielder, who plays for both Manchester City and the Spanish national team, expressed concerns about the demanding schedule, stating: "We are on the brink. 70 to 80 matches a season is simply too much. If people want to see quality football, we need more time to rest."

"Rodri is right. There are too many games. Fans want to see the best, and we need to find a balance. The number of matches is excessive, and injuries are on the rise. With the Nations League and the Club World Cup, the fixtures are increasing. People say we earn a lot of money and shouldn't complain. That is true, but we need to find a balance because the best players won't always be able to take the field," Courtois stated during a stream with Ibai Llanos.

Additionally, Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has previously called on football executives to consider reducing the number of matches in a season due to the rising incidence of player injuries.