ANDONI Iraola believes those in charge of the football schedule should listen to the players after Manchester City’s Rodri said players were ‘close’ to striking.

The Spaniard said this week that this was the ‘general opinion’ of players, with the 28-year-old playing in a total of 63 games last season.

He is yet to start for City after a break of two months since Spain’s victory in Euro 2024.

Cherries players are set to play around 40 games this season for the club, depending on how far they progress in the FA Cup, with internationals playing more if they are called up for their country.

Players at the top teams that are involved in European competitions could play more than 60 games a season, with internationals – which Rodri said was ‘no good’.

(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

Next June, the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup will start, adding more games to the workloads of players at the top teams.

The Daily Echo asked Andoni Iraola what he thought about the schedule and the potential for strikes.

“I think we have to hear the players, especially the top, top level players, the ones who play every week in Europe, the ones who go with the national team every time,” he said.

“At the end of the season they will play, I don't know what tournament, and basically they have no holidays and I think this is what they are trying to say.

“’I don't need a lot, but give me three weeks of holidays without nothing, without no training, just 20 days’, I think it's what they are trying to say.

“Probably everyone says, oh, they earn a lot of money so they don't deserve to complain.

“But I think it will affect the game also because imagine next season if they don't have holidays.

“Pep will say to Rodri, okay, you don't play the first two, three games of the Premier League because you haven't had holidays.

“So, we need to give you two, three weeks for you. So, you're not going to play.

“And then he's not going to play, people are going to complain now why is not Rodri playing the Premier League games, and it's going to be something like this.

“There is a moment where it's normal they earn a lot of money; they have to play a lot of games. But I think they are asking for: Give us, I don't know, three weeks where we can go somewhere or forget about this.

“I don't think it's so big of a deal. I don't think there is going to be, I hope there is no strike. 

“But I think we should listen to them.”

On if he would support his Cherries players should they decide to strike, Iraola said: “I will not say anything and they will decide what is best for them.

“But I think we should just spend two minutes listening especially to the top players that are the ones that never rest.”