BusiTheKing
Senior Member
This idea that used to have a different physical level that he can somehow regain is a bit of an illusion.They need to give him some proper rest after the EURO and see if he can regain his physical level again.
If he keep getting injured or looks like a 40 year old off the ball even after that the club probably have a decision to make here.
He'll always be fantastic on the ball, but it's impossible to carry a player that cannot compete whatsoever physically off the ball.
He's always been a player that appeared in moments and then went missing. People saw the glimpses of talent and ignored the more basic shortcomings. It's just getting more exposed now that people expect a more central, authoritative role from him, which he can't deliver.
Been complaining about these things since his first season in midfield. Lack of general pass-and-move contribution. The meagre off-the-ball running. Lack of spring in his step.
I even prefered Puig over him, an admittedly much less talented player, because of the difference in energy.