Dribble
Well-Known Member
Has anyone claimed players don't want to play international football? If not, where have you gotten this narrative from?sure, only players from those countries love to play for their national teams.
it is impossible to see excellent players still doing it over 30 instead of spending their summers on some fancy sunny island. sure.
I honestly couldn't give a flying fuck about international football, much the same way UEFA & FIFA couldn't give a fuck about our players' welfare.
I'm sure that given the choice of 2 meaningless friendlies or a two week warm weather break, most international regulars would choose the latter.
It's tournament football that players don't want to miss out on, because there's only so many teams who can experience big international European nights.
Since last season, Rodri's made several comments about being scared for his health with the amount of football he's playing. He made 56 appearances for City last season, & had his Spain appearances on to top of those.
As the opening post says, Pep has cautioned our players to remember these current international matches are friendlies & for the players to also remember we're entering a critical phase of the season.
Pep & several other top managers have also lamented over the amount of football top players are expected to compete in. Are they wrong too?
I'd hazard a guess that if given a choice between playing Andorra & San Marino in a qualifier, & sitting them out without it affecting their place in tournament football, most players would choose the latter & let England hopefuls & some U21's play instead.
England have two friendlies against Brazil & Belgium. If Andorra & San Marino were such big draws, why don't the FA opt for the cheaper options & arrange friendlies against them? Exactly!
Having to endure shit qualifying CL groups was part of the reason behind the European Super League proposal. The big clubs want to play each other, not Qarabag, Young Boys or some other team that no one can pronounce their name, from a country few have heard of.
We could shorten the domestic & European season by two months without International football, which would leave ample time for end of season qualifiers & tournaments.
So what's UEFA & FIFA's response? The Nations League & an expanded Club World Cup, ON TOP of what we already have!
To make matters worse, when players get injured, their clubs are only compensated after the first 28 days of an injury, & only for their basic wage up to a maximum of €7.5m. The compensation comes from an €80m central pot & if this is used up on injuries, it's tough titty to the clubs losing out.
This is why the GPC ensured his star players were always "injured" come international friendlies like these, & why he played reserve teams full of academy products in the League Cup. And who could blame him. It worked for ManUre.
Fuck UEFA.
Fuck FIFA.
Fuck the lot of em.
I only have enough love in me for Manchester City & seriously couldn’t give a rats arse about waistcoat & bullshit international football.