James Rodriguez, the 23-year-old star of the Colombian national team, spoke to the press on Thursday. The young starlet voiced his appreciation for Carlo Ancelotti's comments and spoke about his new role at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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"I'm happy because the fact [Ancelotti] wants to talk about [my play] means they are seeing that I am doing a good job, and that the work that I do is not done in vain," Rodriguez said (via AS).
"I have to be open to everything," he added when asked about his position at the club. "At Madrid, I play a little bit further back. Here [with Colombia], I can play more as a 'ten,' more as a playmaker. I have more freedom."
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His numbers lend authenticity to his claims. In 11 league appearances with Madrid, Rodriguez is averaging a modest 2.4 key passes, but has failed to register more than 10 take-ons. At the 2014 World Cup, the talismanic midfielder bedazzled the international stage with his attacking prowess, finishing the tournament with an average of three per match (15).
With Colombia preparing to face the United States in a friendly at Craven Cottage on Friday, the opportunity is there for Rodriguez to remind the world of his play-making abilities, something he will not take for granted.
"Everything has a big influence, being well, training myself well, to be at a good level. Everything, when it comes to playing, is important."
Note: Credit all statistics to officially licensed data from Opta Sports (via WhoScored).
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