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James Rodriguez only lasted a total of 15 minutes in Bayern Munich’s 1-1 draw after coming on as a substitute for Javi Martinez in the 57th minute. Due to what he described as hardening and tightness in his calf, James was subbed off in the 72nd minutes and replaced by Alphonso Davies, who later conceded a penalty that Nürnberg thankfully failed to convert.
Per a report by AZ, James might have been (at least partially) at fault for the calf injury he suffered yesterday, in Bayern Munich’s disappointing 1-1 draw against 1. FC Nürnberg. Prior to the match, as all the other substitutes went through their normal warm-up routine, James emerged from the team’s locker room late, still wearing his track coat, with his hands in his pockets. While Renato Sanches, Rafinha, Serge Gnabry, Alphonso Davies, and Arjen Robben all went through their usual warm-up, James stood idly by near Bayern’s bench.
When James injured his calf just moments after being introduced to the match in the second half of the game, sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic had to translate what James was complaining about to Niko Kovac, prompting the switch for Davies to replace him.
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Hindsight is 20/20, but it seems as if James’s lack of a warm-up routine may be part of the reason why he experienced a calf problem so soon after coming on to the pitch. His abrupt substitution could also, however, have been a precautionary measure if the Colombian was already experiencing some sort of discomfort in his calf prior to the team even coming out onto the pitch. Rodriguez has had off-and-on trouble throughout the season with his calf.
Be that as it may James didn’t do himself any favors by not properly warming up, whether it was his own decision or a recommendation made by Bayern’s coaching and/or medical staff.
By coincidence — or not — Kovac was dissatisfied with the warm-up effort put forth by the Bayern substitutes at the Nürnberg and had the group run a brutal series of sprints after the regular training session had ended. James, however, was not present to do his share of penance on account of his new calf issue.