"We have a lot of games on our shoulders and obviously that takes its toll," said Rodri after Manchester City edged a bruising Champions League quarter-final with Atletico Madrid.
If you were to offer City an aggregate win over Atletico, as well as a Premier League draw with title rivals Liverpool in between, they'd have probably taken it 10 days ago. Add an FA Cup semi-final win over Liverpool on Saturday, and City will be delighted with how their most intense week of the season has progressed.
Even if they fall short in the cup, it's the result they'd have been most willing to sacrifice — not that it was ever a realistic option for Pep Guardiola. This week's Champions League quarter-finals have thrown a new dynamic into the Wembley narrative, however. There's a potential Champions League final showdown between City and Liverpool to consider.
