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Andy Robertson reveals major 'frustration' as Liverpool star agrees with Alisson and Rodri

Rodri and Andy Robertson.
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


Liverpool defender Andy Robertson has opened up on the relentless schedule that top-level soccer players are facing with several high-profile stars having spoken openly about burnout in the last few weeks.

Ahead of the 3-1 win over AC Milan in the Champions League, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker spoke passionately about the need to think carefully about the number of games that players are expected to play. UEFA's competitions have been expanded this season while FIFA is set to introduce a 32-team Club World Cup in 2025.

"It’s a matter to sit down all together and listen to all the parties," Alisson said. "Because we understand we have the media side, from TV; we have the side of UEFA, FIFA, the Premier League, the domestic competitions. We are not stupid, we understand that and we understand people want games, people want more games.

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"But the reasonable thing would be that all the sides I mention and all the people who are responsible for making and organizing the calendar to sit together and listen to all the parties, inclusive of the players. I think so many players have spoken already about that. We just need to be listened [to], that’s what we would like to do, to sit together and to understand what the thinking is of the direction that football wants to go.

"And not only adding games, adding competitions, adding this, adding that. At the end, what we want is giving our best for the football; if you’re tired you cannot compete in a high level, and what I want is to give my best in all the games I play. But we need a solution for that and it doesn’t look like we are close to a good solution for the football’s sake and the players’ sake."

Rodri reiterated a similar message a day later, suggesting that players could even go on strike if their fears are not listened to. In a cruel twist of fate, just days after making those comments, Rodri was struck down with an ACL injury that is set to keep him out for the rest of Manchester City's season.

Manchester City will be without Rodri after suffering a knee injury.
Manchester City will be without Rodri after suffering a knee injury. -Credit:Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

"I don’t think the players are ever asked," Robertson told reporters including from Liverpool.com after being stand-out performer in the Reds' 2-1 win at Wolves. "I think that’s where our frustrations lie. We all love playing football. We love playing games. That’s what we work so hard towards.

"As I speak, we’ve got a game in four days’ time at Anfield in the Champions League. It’s one of the best games to be involved in. But extra games get added. Extra tournaments get added and I just don’t think players get asked what their opinion of it is and how we feel about it. That’s where the frustration lies with us.

"These organizations just put on extra games and tournaments and we’re never asked. That’s frustrating. It doesn’t seem we have much of a say in it. We just get put out there. We always want to put on a show for the fans. We always want people to get value for money. We know how important fans are to football. When lads are getting overworked or whatever, sometimes you can’t do that.

"We’ll keep doing it. We’ve got no real option. We’ll let other people discuss it. We’ll let other people try to help us out but, like I say, when games are put in front of us, when you are in the changing room you don’t think about it.

Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson.
Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson. -Credit:Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images

"You get excited by it. You just go out and play your heart out and that’s all we can do. But, in the future, I think it would be best to get the players together and ask their opinions as well."

It was then suggested to Robertson that some sort of working group involving the players could be set up. "Yeah, whatever they think," he responded.

"There are a lot of experienced professionals and captains who can have a say on these things. They are never asked. Just asking players or managers, it’s always wise to ask the people who can feel it, week-to-week instead of people sitting in offices."

After facing Bologna midweek, Liverpool travels to Crystal Palace for the early kick-off next Saturday. There is then the international break when Robertson will be captaining Scotland against Croatia and Portugal.

With two more matches in the Champions League group phase this season, Robertson has already played nine matches for club and country this season and there could, in theory, be 65 more before the end of May.