Jurrien Timber has expressed his support for Manchester City midfielder Rodi’s comments in relation to potential player strikes due to the increased number of matches in the football calendar.
Earlier this month, Rodri said, “I think we are close to that” when asked if players would strike while Liverpool goalkeeper Allison added: “Sometimes nobody asks the players what they think about adding more games. Maybe our opinion doesn’t matter, but everybody knows what we think about having more games. Everybody’s tired of that.”
Five days after his comments, Rodri sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against Arsenal and he is not expected to return for at least nine months.
Timber, who missed most of last season with an ACL injury, said: “I totally agree with them. It’s a big topic at the moment in dressing rooms, not only at City and Liverpool but also our dressing room. I didn’t play last season, so I’m just enjoying playing right now — you won’t hear me complaining but I totally understand what they’re saying.
“Definitely (players are at more risk of serious injury). I honestly think it’s a dangerous thing. Last week we played City and I think they played again two days later, that’s too much. I understand why players are complaining.”
The new Champions League format sees two extra games played before the knockout stages, but a top-eight finish in the league phase could result in a two-game bye straight to the quarter-finals.
“That makes a difference,” Timber added. “You want to be in the top eight because you want the highest possible finish, but in this case it also makes a difference for your team in terms of resting.”
The Dutch international suffered his ACL injury on the opening day of last season, not returning until Arsenal’s final game of the 2023-24 campaign against Everton. He has played seven matches this season, but did not complete 90 minutes for the club until the 1-0 win away to Tottenham Hotspur this month.
Timber was still heavily involved with Arsenal despite spending just 176 minutes on the pitch last season. The 23-year-old attended many of their home matches and was included in team meetings throughout the year before making his on-pitch return.
On keeping the full-back close to the squad during his time on the sidelines, Arteta said: “(It was about) just getting in his shoes. He comes from Ajax, it was a big move, a different country. He comes here with expectations, starts really well and then gets injured in the first game. Then what?
“You have to look ahead, eight, nine, 10, 12 months and you can feel very lonely and isolated from the team. That can be very disappointing and very difficult to handle personally and emotionally. He did the exact opposite.
“He started to build unbelievable relationships with the physios and his teammates, he started to gather all the information he could about how we were playing and that really helped to understand him as a person and how we were playing in a much better way and to be prepared when he was back.”
(Julian Finney/Getty Images)
