Man City star says he could be forced to retire from football at the end of the season

Manchester City star Manuel Akanji has joked that he may have to retire at the end of the season amid a wider discussion about the current fixture list.

Akanji spoke this week ahead of the return of the Champions League.

Europe’s biggest club competition has undergone significant changes ahead of this season, with a new, unified league stage format in place that will see clubs play eight games in the opening phase instead of six.

The increase in games has increased players’ concerns about the current schedule.

In addition, there are two further international breaks in October and November, during which the stars travel around Europe or the world.

And Akanji has added his name to the list of players who want a change.

Although the Swiss international pointed out the possibility of an early retirement this season, he also made it clear that players have to end their careers earlier than they would like.

He began: “It’s so hard. You don’t just think about this season, you think about next season too.

“Let’s say we win the league or the cup and then reach the final of the Club World Cup. The Community Shield is three weeks later, so when do we have our holiday?”

“There is no break in the winter, so if we are lucky we will have two weeks and then we have to be back and start the next season.”

Getty

“Then there’s the World Cup next summer. It never ends. It’s just one game after another.”

“I don’t know how things will go in the next few years. You can’t just add one game after another and assume that everything will be the same as before. You also have to think about the players.”

“At some point you’re too tired to play any more games. And then injuries definitely come.”

The defender, who turns 30 next year, added: “We train as hard as we can and we are fit. But there has to be a limit. Maybe I’ll stop at 30!”