After Rodri criticism: Leipzig professional Orban shows understanding

Captain Willi Orban of RB Leipzig shows understanding for the criticism of the ever-increasing number of competitive matches per season that his professional colleague Rodri of Manchester City recently voiced. "It's well known that the workload in top-flight soccer is incredibly high," said the Saxony defender ahead of tonight's Champions League game (21:00/DAZN) at Atlético Madrid. "I absolutely understand Rodri. If there's a Club World Cup on top of that, then it's very, very difficult for load management and actually madness for the players." Especially because players in England don't have a winter break, Orban emphasized.

When asked whether players could refuse to play, the Spanish European champion said: "I think we're close to it. I think you can ask any player you want, he'll say the same thing." Clubs like City could end up playing 75 or even 80 games in a season given the number of competitions. For international players like Rodri, it's even more.

Orban doesn't believe there could be a strike, however. "But of course it will be borderline for the body," he said.