Manchester City are putting together a plan to give Rodri a rest after the midfielder admitted he was tired in the aftermath of City’s 3-3 draw with Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
Mail Sport reported Rodri had held discussions with the treble winners last summer over his workload, but has since gone on to make 47 appearances for both club and country.
The Spaniard warned about the possibility of burnout in the build up to this season stating that featuring in up to 60 matches wasn’t healthy and he told the club he couldn’t push his body to the limit for a second consecutive season.
City devising a plan to rest Rodri
There are potentially 13 matches left this season for Pep Guardiola’s side if they make both the Champions League and FA Cup finals.
Rodri has started 41 games already this season but did miss three games after a red card against Nottingham Forest back in September.
Speaking after the Madrid game in quotes picked up by Mail Sport the 27-year-old admitted he needed a rest.
“I do need a rest,” the Spain international said.
“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.”
Guardiola’s side are back in action when they host Luton Town at The Etihad on Saturday which could represent a good opportunity to rest Rodri.
Rodri is so key to how City play and they have found it difficult to replace him when he hasn’t been available with Kalvin Phillips failing to make an impact, but if he was rested the most likely replacement would be Mateo Kovacic.
The midfielder looked tired in the 4-2 win at Crystal Palace particularly in the first half, and that was also the case in the first half against Real Madrid, before he got himself together and found his composure, but Guardiola questioned this after the Palace win.
“Normally the players look tired when the team is not playing good”, Guardiola said.
“Did you see tiredness in the second half with Rodri? Not at all. In the first half he was so tired, he was missing too much, our process was not good. He was in positions he shouldn’t be.”