Pep’s plan to give fulcrum Rodri a rest before run-in

MANCHESTER CITY are devising a plan to give Rodri some much-needed rest after the midfielder admitted tiredness in the wake of Tuesday’s pulsating 3-3 draw at Real Madrid. Rodri discussed his workload with the Treble winners in the summer but has made 47 outings for club and country this season. Just nine outfield players across Europe’s top five leagues — including Phil Foden — have racked up more minutes than the Spaniard’s 3,497. Rodri was candid about the potential for burnout heading into the campaign, claiming that featuring in up to 60 matches is ‘not healthy’ and telling City pushing his body to ‘the limit’ couldn’t happen for a second consecutive year. City have a potential 13 matches to go if they progress to finals of both the Champions League and FA Cup. Rodri has started 41 this term.

‘I do need a rest,’ he 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.’

Rodri also revealed John Stones soldiered on with an injury late in Madrid.

‘John was tight and had some problems at the end but he showed his courage because he knew that the team needed him,’ he said. Guardiola’s side host Luton Town in the Premier League on Saturday and that could present an opportunity to leave Rodri out. Yet identifying an understudy has proved difficult, evidenced by a difficult spell for Kalvin Phillips. Mateo Kovacic is the most likely deputy at the base of their midfield but struggled there in September’s defeat at Wolves when Rodri was suspended.