'POV: You play for City' - Ruben Dias shares Man City's RIDICULOUS schedule for new season as fixture congestion is laid bare

Dias only recently joined up with Manchester City for their pre-season following a disappointing Euro 2024 in Germany with Portugal. While Pep Guardiola's side played a total of four friendlies, their clashes did not have a number of senior players present as City wanted them to have a decent amount of rest ahead of a very demanding season. Dias shared a photo of their potential schedule and labelled the post: 'POV: You play for City'.

The schedule is colour coded, with Premier League matchweeks highlighted in green, Champions League matchdays in purple and domestic cup matches also flagged. The Club World Cup, which begins next June, is also marked.

X / @rubendias

Fans were immediately surprised by the fixture congestion as the club are set to play the Club World Cup and the new edition of the Champions League.

X user @Yovssovph said: "These matches are too much. UEFA should revert back to 32 teams and the PL board should reduce PL teams to 18."

@tltlx69 added: "It doesn't help because UEFA and FIFA hate days off. If you reduce EPL teams or UCL teams, new competition will be born to fill up the empty schedule. Football now is a money-printing machine."

Real Madrid fan @Bellingham10ii said: "Real Madrid are playing in 7 competitions this season... This is nothing compared to that."

@sxrgioSZN said: "I feel so sorry for Rodri’s legs,"

@Woobhaxx added: "Haaland is getting the same treatment now that Alverez is not longer playing for City"

Fixture congestion has indeed been a very big issue for top clubs with the major increase in the number of games in a season. The Champions League group stages this year will have teams play a total of eight games, while teams like City, Real Madrid and Liverpool will also play in the month-long Club World Cup.

Manchester City's next clash will be their Manchester derby clash against United in the Community Shield on August 10 as Guardiola's side attempt to get revenge for their FA Cup final defeat.