With every day that passes without them, it would seem we tend to realize more and more how much Rodri and Kroos mean for us. Another omen for all regarding the importance of midfield players, constructors. Without Rodri and Kroos, the games of City and Real are messy, there is no control of the matches. This is a deprivation of playing coaches who have the best feeling of what the other ten partners need.

Real Madrid has mowed down almost its entire defensive line: Alaba, Carvajal, Militao, Nacho left in the summer. City too have a lot of problems with the squad, you know. There are also players who have given up: Real has Tchouameni, who constantly loses concentration, the same Mbappe, the already very old Modric; City has a hellishly sagging Walker.

Neither team has enough even for full-fledged matches every four days; they have been giving up physically since the finish. The load on the squad is doubled, and there is no necessary rotation due to a bunch of injuries.