“Ederson, Nathan Ake, Sergio Gomez, Rodri, and Erling Haaland were all back in ManCity training today after respective injury/fitness issues.”

Did anyone not see this coming? Seems it’s a regular occurrence where City players will say they are “injured” to miraculously recover in a week after getting to fly back early.

  • AvikHyp3@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Yea it’s been known this happens. Fergie used to do it and now many managers do. It’s the only way to combat the ridiculous amount of international games

  • Gibs960@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    It’s a shame that it happens, but most clubs do this if a big game falls just after the international break.

    I’m not 100% why you’ve singled City out for doing something that has been going on since Fergie/Wenger days - and probably before.

  • Slowhand8824@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    If the league were to punish every team that did this there wouldn’t any teams with international level quality players

  • TSWMCR88@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Hardly,

    We are usually full of injuries and always 2/3 players down.

    Regular occurrence my arse

  • jamesy505@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Do they not have the rule anymore about not being able to play for your club after missing an international, if the international FA kick up a fuss?

  • BugsyMalone_@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Don’t think this is anything new either, I’ve read things from years and years back regarding players declaring themselves not fit for international matches so they can be fine for the PL.

    I’d imagine it might happen even more now with the amount of games played.

  • ajyahzee@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Hey they win multiple champs getting around FFP, PGMOL etc, this is cake walk for them, why else you think they are able to make PL a farmers league for them?

  • Soccerandmetal@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    The real problem is UEFA/FIFA pushing for teams to start star players in meanigless games.

    There is also different take, why call player like Rodri when he may be injured and when you have a lot of players waiting to get a chance to play for national team.

    Same goes for Haaland. Why play semi-injured striker in a useless game when you can give a chance to someone else?

    If anything it’s always better to “fake” injury than to start injured player who won’t be able to help in the end.