From the impracticable calendar due to the number of close matches to the management of media pressure and the fierce criticism received, but not only that. Ruben Diasdefensive bulwark of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, was at the ‘Web Summit’ to speak on a panel entitled “Making a difference, on and off the pitch”. Here the Portuguese born in ’97 did not want to hide, revealing the not so remote possibility that the players could go on strike due to the overload of matches.
The first words: “If it were to happen, it is important that we are all united and do it all together, as in another extreme situation. If we have to raise our voice and go on strike, we will do it. Now we are focused on everyday life, but in due course we will have to think about it There should be a limit to the number of games. We are talking about performances, and when we talk about performances we have to make sure that the players are safe well beyond that. It’s increasingly difficult.”
An alarm raised following the myriad of injuries, and even serious ones, in this first juncture of the season: “We love to outdo ourselves, but the fans want a quality show. Obviously they want a lot of games, but I think the fans understand us. We have to put the athletes at the center of the issue, because we are the ones playing. We understand the industry, but they are our bodies that are at stake. We need to rest and breathe. This year we don’t know how it will go, because of the Club World Cup.”
After that Ruben Dias moved on to social causes, such as the fight against bullying, admitting that he knows how to handle criticism well: “I’m good at ignoring it. It all starts at home, with the comfort and love I have. This is my refuge. Then it’s important to believe in our purpose. In times of stress or when people try to bring you down, you have to continue to resist and perform well, to break that negativity. It’s always been like this, but it’s not easy to manage sometimes.”