Amid Manchester City’s pursuit of a second consecutive Treble, midfielder Rodri admits to feeling the strain and plans to take a break during the intense season run-in.
Having already made 41 appearances this campaign, the 27-year-old faced Real Madrid in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg draw, marking the onset of a demanding schedule comprising eight matches across three competitions in April alone.
With 3,497 minutes played this season, Rodri ranks 23rd among players from Europe’s top leagues. However, his participation in numerous fixtures has taken its toll, as evidenced by his absence in four domestic games due to suspension, resulting in City’s defeat in all four instances.
Reflecting on the workload, the Spain international acknowledges the necessity for rest, stating, “I do need a rest. Let’s see how we speak, how we live the situation. Sometimes it is what it is. I need to adjust. It [rest] is something we are planning, yes.”
As City navigates a packed fixture list, including clashes against Luton, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Premier League outings, concerns about player fatigue persist.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag recently highlighted the challenge of maintaining consistent performance levels amid an overloaded schedule, pointing to City’s contrasting displays against Arsenal and Manchester United as evidence.