Don’t feel sorry for footballers says Hill
CRAMMING so many fixtures into little more than a week is tough – but Rochdale boss Keith Hill insists nobody should feel too sorry for footballers over the festive period.
Dale are halfway through a run of four games in nine days with Boxing Day’s trip to Blackburn followed by a trip to Doncaster today before the New Year’s Day game against Blackpool at the Crown Oil Arena.
“It’s very tough because the game has become quicker, the ball is in play more and the total distance covered by an individual player and by a team is getting pushed further and further into big numbers,” Hill said ahead of today’s League One clash. “It is a stress on the players physically and mentally in terms of dealing with winning, losing or drawing.
“But those are the demands the players have to accept. “The seasoned professionals have been there, seen it and done it – it’s the younger players who have to accept they maybe have to play a game and step out for a game.
“We’ll pick sides that we feel will best represent our opportunities.
“It is tough, but there are a lot of things out there that are tough.
“Climbing up a ladder and getting on a roof is tough at this time of year, so don’t feel sorry for a football player, they enjoy what they do.” RAHEEM Sterling has revealed what Pep Guardiola was telling him during his ‘Nathan Redmond’ moment in training.
The City manager was filmed last summer animatedly grabbing the England winger as he spoke to him.
And memories of that moment were revived when Guardiola similarly grabbed Southampton player Redmond at the end of the Blues’ win over the Saints last month.
There were calls for Guardiola to face FA action for his approach to Redmond, quickly defused when the player himself said the City boss had complimentary.
And Sterling has backed up the fact that, while Guardiola may appear aggressive in such moments, it is just his manner.
He has responded to such treatment brilliantly, bagging his 17th goal of the season to earn City a 1-0 win at Newcastle.
Said Sterling: “People have asked me what Pep was showing me, a clip that emerged on the internet.
“Basically, he was giving me advice and telling me that, because I control the ball with the outside of my foot a lot, if I control it with an open body then I’m directly at the defender. It takes less time.
“He was saying ‘That could be only been a crucial part of the game for you – get that touch out of your feet instead of having it so close to your feet.’
“Normally when I control it I want it right by my foot, to then move left or right. He was saying that if you get it out of your feet, then you’re running directly at the defender.”
That kind of advice has transformed Sterling, and Guardiola has also taught him to be less ‘scared’ in front of goal – his previous season’s best goals tally was 11, but he is now City’s top scorer and should more than double that total this season.
“I am just happy to try and help my team,” said Sterling when asked about his target for the season.