In the 2019 season, Manchester City signed Rodri from Atletico Madrid for a record-breaking £62.8m transfer fee. The midfielder, now 27 years old, has been instrumental in the team’s pursuit of a second successive Treble, playing in 41 matches this season. However, with eight games scheduled across three competitions in April alone, Rodri recognizes the need to manage his fatigue to stay fresh for the crucial matches ahead.
Rodri has played over 3,000 minutes this season, making him one of the busiest players in Europe. With fixture congestion posing challenges for players like Rodri, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola understands the importance of managing players’ fitness to achieve success on all fronts. Despite winning their games consistently, players across Europe are struggling to maintain peak performance levels due to the demanding schedule. As tournaments like the Club World Cup and expanded Champions League continue to add to players’ workload, both Fifa and Fifpro have called for better protection against excessive fixture congestion.
As the season progresses, it will be essential for teams like Manchester City to carefully manage their players’ fitness if they want to achieve success on all fronts. With crucial matches like the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid and an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea coming up, Rodri and other players must prioritize rest and recovery to perform at their best during these high-stakes fixtures.
