Players would cut pay to reduce football schedule – Carvajal

Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal says players would be willing to take a pay cut if it allows them to play fewer matches, reduce their workload and avoid injuries.

Madrid host Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday with eight players out through injury – Thibaut Courtois, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Éder Militão, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Luka Modric, Vinícius Júnior and Arda Güler – and many are pointing to a busy schedule. as a contributing factor.

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“For a top player playing at a big club, the schedule is very demanding,” Carvajal said at a press conference on Tuesday. “With the new Club World Cup, we will never have a summer off. I agree with [coach Carlo Ancelotti] and other people who said there were too many games. So many injuries are not a coincidence.

“It’s the players who play, and it’s difficult to find an agreement between everyone. It’s complicated. But the reality is that there are a lot of injuries, and I think a lot of between them are due to the calendar.”

Spain international Carvajal has suffered frequent injuries himself in recent years, but has returned to his career-best form this season, making 12 La Liga starts and three Champions League appearances.

“A lot of people say ‘why not [players] reduce their salaries?'” Carvajal added. “We didn’t say we wouldn’t do it. If we were to win less and play fewer games, it wouldn’t be a problem. We don’t see the players at their best and the matches lose quality, that’s the reality.”

Despite their injuries, Madrid are top of La Liga and lead Champions League Group C with four wins out of four.

Brazilian striker Rodrygo has been the star this month, with five goals in his last three games after being criticized for his lack of goalscoring earlier in the campaign.

“It’s Real Madrid, we don’t score for three games [in a row] and you get criticism,” Carvajal said. “I’m happy for him, that the pressure is off now. When he starts to score, you see the effect on the team. I hope it continues.”

Star midfielder Jude Bellingham scored against Cadiz on Sunday to set a record 14 goals in his first 15 games for the club, after recovering from a dislocated shoulder.

“I think Bellingham is really smart, professional, serious and mature,” Ancelotti said. “But the most important thing is that he is a fantastic player, and a fantastic player can adapt anywhere, in any country.”