Guardian journalist fumes at James Rodriguez for Everton absence
Guardian journalist Sachin Nakrani has slammed Everton midfielder James Rodriguez ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash with Manchester City.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side head into their fixture with the Premier League champions needing to better Tottenham Hotspur’s result to finish seventh, which would secure European football at Goodison Park next season.
But they will arrive at the Etihad Stadium without influential playmaker Rodriguez who has flown home to Colombia after being ruled out with a calf injury, four days after missing the win versus Wolves through “fatigue”. [Sky Sports]
Writing on his personal Twitter profile, Nakrani hit out at the 29-year-old for shirking his responsibilities.
He wrote: “Everton’s most talented player in 20 years ducking out of their last two games with fatigue and then posting a picture of himself sitting on a giant bed in a giant plane really is an awful look.
“He may want to have a word with his social media team – as well as with himself.”
https://twitter.com/SachinNakrani/status/1396401746684035077
Not helping himself
After a brilliant start to life on Merseyside, it’s started to turn very sour for Rodriguez.
He has missed nine of our last 14 games with the former Real Madrid man copping plenty of flak from Blues supporters who have accused him of putting his own self-interests first.
Rodriguez will now link up with the Colombia national squad ahead of their participation in next month’s Copa America tournament, and that’s a source of frustration for many who will wonder why he couldn’t even be considered an option for our last few games.
European football is still on the line for the Blues and his inclusion in the squad would have given us a big boost with his creativity and eye for goal.
But as it is we will have to soldier on without him and hope our other attackers can step up to the plate and help Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin break down a stubborn Manchester City defence.
After that attention will inevitably turn to Rodriguez’s Blues future which is hanging in the balance.
In other Everton news, ‘They would take him’ – Pundit backs Blues to sign ‘Incredible’ 9-goal PL attacker.
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