admin Manchester City may not like the extra minutes they have to play but it helped them to keep their cool against Sheffield United.
Manchester City remained calm as they conceded a late goal against Sheffield United due to time changes this season.
New refereeing guidelines, introduced a few weeks ago, aim to increase playing time in matches across all English leagues by adding more time at the end of each half.
The intention is to enhance the spectacle for the fans, although Pep Guardiola was one of those who criticized the decision to put further pressure on the players, who are already on a tight schedule.
Rodri is another who does not like the new initiative and highlighted the number of injuries he has suffered so far this season to underline his point on the increased pressure on players.
City could be six months without Kevin De Bruyne after picking up a new hamstring injury in his first game back, while Arsenal new signing Jurrien Timber will miss much of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
However, extra time is already having a significant impact on players’ perception of the game. Despite conceding the equalizer at Bramall Lane in the 85th minute, City are hoping there will be enough extra time – eight minutes from time despite City not using them as a substitute – which has enabled the Premier League champions to keep their composure where they could have done more hectic in previous years.
“The game has changed. Added time is now an extra 10 per cent of the game,” Rodri said after the 2-1 win.
“I don’t like it, I don’t think it is good for football because this is when bodies are the most tired and you have seen what is going on with injuries at the beginning of the season. But it is not in my hands to decide it and football is changing so we have to adapt.
“We know now with extra time you still have 10-15 minutes to go so we had the mentality that we could score again. You see me in the game that I tried to shoot because I found space in the front areas. At the end, one went in so I’m very happy.”
Rodri’s 88th-minute winner was another game where he popped up with an important goal. It may not be quite as memorable as the Champions League final but the Spaniard has been involved in half of City’s eight goals this season.
He is enjoying playing alongside new signing Mateo Kovacic – not least because of the Croatian’s impeccable Spanish – and the former Chelsea man is also allowing him the freedom to get forward more. While Rodri is in the team to bring other qualities, the goals could become more frequent.
“Ilkay [Gundogan] and Kevin played much higher than me so I needed to cover them but now with Mateo I can go forward more. He’s a very experienced player and a smart player,” he said.
“It’s easy to play with him. He has a special ability to break lines with the ball and he speaks fluent Spanish so it is even easier to communicate with him.
“I think I can improve in these terms even though I know it is not my role. I know I can do it and in some situations where I read the games and pay attention to the strikers and the wingers I can take advantage of this space in the final third that they generate. I’m trying to improve in this sense.”
