The increased number of competitive games in recent years means some players take part in as many as 60 or 70 games a season, which not only hampers players' ability to compete during the club season but can impact their performances with their national teams during major competitions. Henry said he did not play as many games as players do now but even he dealt with the wear and tear of a long season during his playing career.
"I've been in that situation, maybe not the number [of games] that those guys are reaching right now. I used to arrive in tournaments dead – mentally, physically," Henry said said during the UEFA Champions League Today pre-match show on Wednesday. "2002 [World Cup], I arrived injured. [Euro] 2004, I arrived injured. [Euro] 2008, I arrived injured. I just arrived there to play. I couldn't prepare. You don't prepare [for] a competition. "
"For me, it's pretty simple," he said. "It's not about complaining and it's not about saying players earn too much money or debating. It's about having an educational discussion with the players' union – a proper one, not with the ex-players. Don't call me, UEFA. Do not call me, FIFA. I'm not playing anymore. I don't know how it feels anymore. I know how it felt, I don't know how it feels anymore so speak to [Virgil] van Dijk, speak to Mo Salah. … Sit with them. Have a discussion with them. They are the actors right now."
"For me, it's pretty simple," he said. "It's not about complaining and it's not about saying players earn too much money or debating. It's about having an educational discussion with the players' union – a proper one, not with the ex-players. Don't call me, UEFA. Do not call me, FIFA. I'm not playing anymore. I don't know how it feels anymore. I know how it felt, I don't know how it feels anymore so speak to [Virgil] van Dijk, speak to Mo Salah. … Sit with them. Have a discussion with them. They are the actors right now."
"UEFA adding the Nations League – it wasn't needed," Carrager said. "FIFA adding the Club World Cup was not needed. Nobody is out there asking for those competitions. They're just providing them to make more money and that's it. We know why there is more games."
Henry added that he barely watched the Club World Cup.