England's post-Kane era finally looks far more rosy

It's too easy for Mayra Ramirez! Clinical Chelsea are looking ominous

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

Santos, Doak & eight best Premier League loanees of the season

Saudi Arabia or MLS beckons for Pogba after Juve release

'Please leave him alone!' - Deschamps sends out Mbappe plea

Mendes responds to Ronaldo criticism of Portugal players

Ronaldo stunner the cherry on top for five-star Portugal 

Where's Leo?! Messi invisible as Argentina upset by Paraguay

Amorim told he's already made his first mistake at Man Utd

Kroos opens door to Real Madrid return 

How to watch Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson from anywhere

Why Ronaldo has been released from the Portugal squad

Manchester City

Manchester United

Liverpool

Arsenal

Chelsea

Other

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Elite players seemingly playing more games</li><li>Silva slams football schedule as "absurd"</li><li>Says he has "very little time" with his family</li></ul>

Bernardo Silva slams 'absolutely absurd' football schedule with Man City & Portugal star complaining that he spends 'very little time with my family'

UEFA Nations League A

Croatia

Portugal

Premier League

Tottenham

Portugal international Silva says it is ludicrous that City are set to play three games a week for the next few months, with very little time to recover. The 29-year-old added that because of the gruelling schedule, he spends less and less time with his nearest and dearest and has called on something to change.

WHAT HAPPENED?

He told <a href="https://www.record.pt/internacional/competicoes-de-selecoes/liga-das-nacoes/detalhe/bernardo-silva-e-roberto-martinez-fazem-a-antevisao-ao-portugal-croacia-siga-a-conferencia-em-direto?ref=Sele%C3%A7%C3%B5es_DestaquesPrincipais" target="_blank">Record</a>: "I think there are two completely different issues here. When the players complain, people say that players can't complain about the life they have. And they're right because we're fulfilling a dream and we do what we do. On the other hand, the schedule is completely crazy. We've just received the news that we only have one day off for the English League Cup game. We play Arsenal, we rest for a day and then we have the game against Watford. And if we don't get knocked out of any other competition, we'll play every three days for months. It's been absolutely absurd. In the Champions League, if you don't qualify for the round of 16 you still have to play two more games. It's true that the squads are bigger, but I'm not going to say that it's easy. It hasn't been easy. I spend very little time with my family and friends. The amount of games we're subjected to is absolutely absurd."

WHAT BERNARDO SILVA SAID

Silva's complaints come at a time when a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/erling-haaland-machine-like-form-man-city-proves-players-need-proper-rest-pfa-chief/bltd9c6aa45ce6df4a6#cs5ddac08a158917fc" target="_blank">FIFPRO report found that elite players are under increasing "mental stress"</a> due to the number of games they play and that many have as little as 12 per cent of the calendar year off (less than one day a week). Overworked players can often lead to injured players and a drop off in the quality of football. With rising interest in football and record profits, player welfare may now be more important than ever.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Silva, who played for <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/portugal-croatia-player-ratings-cristiano-ronaldo-joao-neves/bltb0b5326482dac03c#cs7639950e549900a8" target="_blank">Portugal in their 2-1 Nations League win over Croatia</a> on Thursday, may not get much rest anytime soon as he could feature for his country against Scotland on Sunday and City have five matches to play before the end of September in all competitions.

WHAT NEXT?

Bernardo Silva slams 'absolutely absurd' football schedule with Man City & Portugal star complaining that he spends 'very little time with my family' | Goal.com

Manchester City star Bernardo Silva says he has &quot;very little time&quot; with his family due to football&apos;s &quot;absolutely absurd&quot; schedule.

Bernardo Silva slams &apos;absolutely absurd&apos; football schedule with Man City &amp; Portugal star complaining that he spends &apos;very little time with my family&apos;