No one can play 60, 70 games a season. For a couple of seasons, maybe, but not 10 seasons.”
Those words would have been worth paying attention to from the mouth of any top footballer, yet for it to have come from Rodri makes it personal for Manchester City. After slogging his way through 68 games for club and country two years ago, as he approaches number 62 of a potential 63 this year his message is that it cannot go on. This is consistent with his message last summer, after City had won the Treble, when he told them that he could not play the same number of games again or he would burn out. He was heard, yet with Kalvin Phillips failing to provide the competition he expected to there wasn’t enough action taken; Rodri would end up talking of cruising through the final minutes of victories as an attempt at rest, or publicly pleading to be benched for a game.
Before the smallest violins emerge for some of the most well-paid people on the planet, they are not asking for sympathy – just for their employers to take proper care of them if they want them to produce returns over many years rather than burning out. That responsibility lies with organisers, and both UEFA and FIFA have much to answer over their expanded competitions coming into the football calendar that will see teams play even more games next season Fight in over 2000 unique and authentic Vehicles. Fight on Land, on Water and in the Air. Join the most comprehensive vehicular combat game. Over 2000 tanks, ships and aircraft.
War Thunder
While they can’t control that, City have the ability to take a certain amount into their own hands. If they must play more games, they need at least one extra player in the squad that can give Rodri the rests that he needs in order to avoid a slump in form.
