Bayern Munich coach, Vincent Kompany, and Bayer Leverkusen manager, Xabi Alonso, have voiced concerns about the increasing workload on football players, joining calls for action amid ongoing strike discussions.
Kompany suggested a cap on the number of games a player can participate in each year, emphasizing the need for mandatory rest periods. Alonso also advocated for greater player involvement in decisions related to the fixture calendar.
The growing number of matches, including the expanded Champions League and FIFA’s 32-team Club World Cup, has raised alarm. Top clubs could face up to 75 games in the current season. Kompany, speaking before Bayern’s match against Werder Bremen, said, “Playing 75 to 80 games a year is unrealistic,” calling for a cap and compulsory holidays for players.
Manchester City midfielder, Rodri, recently echoed these concerns, warning that players may be nearing the point of striking due to the heavy schedule. Liverpool’s Alisson Becker and Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois have also expressed similar worries.
Alonso, ahead of Leverkusen’s match against Wolfsburg, emphasized that players must be involved in these decisions to ensure the quality of football. Both managers stressed the importance of addressing player welfare, with Kompany highlighting the need for exceptions in finals but maintaining the necessity of reducing the overall workload.
Kompany also announced planned squad rotations to cope with Bayern’s midweek commitments, while expressing optimism that veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who was substituted in a recent match, would be fit to play against Bremen.
