The workload totals alone explain the concern.
That matters because fatigue rarely arrives as one dramatic collapse. It usually shows up in slower recoveries, more muscle issues, and a drop in intensity across a run of big games.
At City, the focus naturally falls on Rodri. He played more than 700 World Cup minutes, won the tournament’s top individual prize, and is expected to be managed carefully after a minor back procedure. Reports also suggest he remains part of transfer-market interest involving City and Real Madrid, adding another layer of uncertainty.
City’s transition after Pep Guardiola also increases the strain. A demanding squad coming off a heavy summer is now adjusting to a new voice.
For Real Madrid, the issue is less upheaval and more accumulation. An older core, another deep summer for key internationals, and a full Spanish and European schedule create the same basic risk: too many important players carrying too much load too early.
Neither Bayern Munich nor Paris Saint-Germain escaped the World Cup drain.
That gives them more room to rotate, especially PSG, who have already shown they can protect legs domestically while keeping their focus on Europe.
The next month will be revealing. Early team selections, recovery plans and injury updates may tell the story before the table does, especially once the first stretch of league and Champions League fixtures starts to bite.