He is Manchester City’s talisman and a man with whom Pep Guardiola is not losing at all, but he is also one tired footballer in desperate need of rest. In fact, he can’t even hide it anymore. Rodri is City’s dynamo in the centre of the field, a driving force for the English champion, but a brutal schedule is taking its toll. On the other hand, not that Guardiola is a superstition man, but all three league (and one Cup) defeats this season came when the Spaniard was not in the squad. So far, Rodri made 47 appearances for club and country, and he joins the ‘squad’ of just nine outfield players in Europe’s Top 5 leagues who have played (more or less) minutes like Rodri, who has 3497. Interestingly, in that group is another City midfielder Phil Foden, but he did not talk about resting.A reminder that Rodri doesn’t lose ❌😤 pic.twitter.com/cqyjFCl9aj— OneFootball (@OneFootball) April 10, 2024 After a thrilling encounter with Real Madrid in the best game of this season’s Champions League, Rodri talked about the need for a rest, claiming that featuring in up to 60 matches is ‘not healthy’. He even revealed that his teammate John Stones played through injury.UCL: Two turnarouds and six goals in a thriller between Real and City“I do need a rest. It is something we are planning. Let’s see how we speak, how we live the situation. Sometimes it is what it is and I need to adjust. Rest is important.Every one of us can do better, even myself. But we need to rest to be honest. They were a bit fresher in the first half than us, it’s normal. But I think the mentality of the team to go against them and come back with those goals sums up the mentality of the champions we are. John Stones was tight and had some problems at the end but he showed his courage because he knew that the team needed him. He didn’t say “I need to go”, he stayed until the end – this is the kind of thing we’re going to need” explained the Spaniard. After these statements, it’s all but certain that the City–Luton game will be played without Rodri.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – QUARTER-FINALSFirst legTuesdayArsenal – Bayern 2-2 (1-2)/Saka 12, Trossard 76 – Gnabry 18, Kane 32(p)Real Madrid – Man.City 3-3 (2-1)/Dias (og) 12, Rodrygo 14, Valverde 79 – Silva 2, Foden 66, Gvardiol 71/Wednesday22:00: (1.85) Atl.Madrid (3.60) Dortmund (4.80)22:00: (2.05) PSG (3.60) Barcelona (3.80)***odds are subject to change***
