Rodri, a defender for Manchester City, says he is going to take a break near the end of the season while the team tries to win a second straight Treble. The 27-year-old played in his 41st game of the season in Tuesday’s draw against Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.
That was the third of eight games the club will play in April in three different tournaments. The Spain player said, “I do need a break.” “Let’s see how we talk and act in this case.” It is what it is sometimes. “I need to change.” We are planning to do it [rest], yes.”
Brand new Manchester City news, analysis, and fan opinions Get news about Man City sent to you At the Santiago Bernabeu, the game ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw. It had been 429 days and 66 games since Rodri had lost a United game in any tournament.
The former Atletico Madrid midfielder has played 3,497 minutes this season, which is the 23rd most of any player from one of the five best teams in Europe. Out of those three, only two are goalkeepers and the other two have made more starts.
Rodri has been suspended for four home games this season, and City has lost all four. On Saturday, Pep Guardiola’s team plays Luton in the Premier League. On April 17, they play Real Madrid in the second game. Then, in the FA Cup, they play Chelsea. Before the end of the month, they have Premier League trips to Brighton and Nottingham Forest.
Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, said last week that players are having trouble performing at regular levels because they are being “overloaded.” He used City’s performance in their goalless draw against Arsenal as an example, comparing it to their 3-1 win over the Red Devils in March.
Ten Hag said, “Your level drops again against Manchester City; it was a different team than the last time you played them.” The level of competition between teams will drop at any time if we keep putting too many events on the world calendar.
“Dangerous levels of fixture congestion” need to be fixed, according to Fifpro, the global players’ union. Fifa, the organization that runs football around the world, is also making the Club World Cup bigger, and starting next season, Uefa will make the Champions League in Europe bigger as well.