John Terry weighs in on player strike debate as Chelsea legend makes his thoughts on revamped Club World Cup clear

Chelsea legend John Terry has insisted that players do want to take part in the Club World Cup amid as the debate over football’s increasingly hectic schedule continues to intensify.

Ballon d’Or favourite Rodri echoed Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson’s criticism on Tuesday and revealed that the world’s elite stars are considering striking over the issue of an ever-expanding calendar.

The Manchester City midfielder was bullish about players being treated as commodities, admitting that the lack of rest is worrying professionals and becoming a constant source of discussion inside dressing rooms.

Pep Guardiola’s side kick off their Champions League campaign against Inter on Wednesday and could end up competing in 73 matches during a season that is not likely to finish until July given their participation in the new Club World Cup.

Chelsea will also be taking part in the revamped 32-team Club World Cup, which will run from June 15 to July 13 in 2025 and be marketed as the best of the best slugging it out across the States.

And Terry, who currently works with the Chelsea Academy, says the Blues players will excited to be going there and looking to win it.

Terry, in an interview with FIFA, said: ‘I’ve been asked this a couple of times. As a player, [it’s] like: ‘Do you really care about the [FIFA Club World Cup]?’ Absolutely you do.

‘So, 100% as a football club, we’re going to be prepared to go there and be looking to win it. And, obviously, there’s some really top sides there as well, but from a player’s perspective, it’s been thrown, kind of my generation and the generation after me, that it doesn’t really matter.

‘It does, 100% this matters. So, as a football club, we’re excited and delighted to be there, and we’re going to come and bring our best players, our best squad, and give it our best opportunity, because I think that’s what the fans want to see.

‘You get one chance at these big competitions, two if you’re lucky, maybe three or four, if you’re [Cristiano] Ronaldo or [Lionel] Messi you get to do it a lot of times. But, I think for the normal player, these don’t come about very often, and I think it’s important to take these opportunities.

‘So, when these opportunities are here — This is what I’m saying, from a Chelsea perspective, it’s an opportunity to win a trophy and test yourself against the best. I think for where Chelsea are at the moment as well, it’s really a bit of good news that we would like, it’s an opportunity to win another trophy.

Rodri revealed top players are considering going on strike amid concerns over the calendar

‘So, from our perspective, you know, I see teams from the South American countries playing really exciting football, with some real, real talent.

‘So, also, it’s a shop window for those guys as well, to put themselves in the window for the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea, and many other teams playing in the Premier League and the high-level leagues across the world. So, these guys are here to showcase themselves as well, which makes it even more exciting as well.

The PFA are currently working on legal action against FIFA due to an ‘overloaded and unworkable’ schedule.