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In this day and age, with the squad sizes that some teams now have, it’s so easy to find world-class players sitting on the bench week in week out. PSG, this past summer, brought in both Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, meaning some world-class players have had to step aside and sit on the bench.
With the pressure on those in the starting 11, they are performing fantastically to keep a world class player on the bench. Here are five players who don’t deserve to be on the bench:
#5 Wojciech Szczesny
It is truly baffling that Arsenal decided to sell Wojciech Szczesny this summer. If it had been any other manager apart from Arsene Wenger, whose relationship with Sczcesny seemingly collapsed, they would have almost definitely kept him at Arsenal as their number one.
It is understandable why the Pole is sat on the bench at Juventus, with veteran Gianluigi Buffon still being one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world, but he could certainly be the number one keeper at most top clubs around the world
It looks like the 27-year-old may succeed Buffon in Turin, but right now he will be on the bench until the Italian retires. This is slightly disappointing because he is a goalkeeper who should be starting regularly. In a two-season loan spell at Roma, in which he played 72 league games, he kept 19 clean sheets, 14 in his second season.
In the second season, he consolidated his status as one of the world’s best goalkeepers, especially with his distribution. Considering how good his second season was at Roma, he is a player who should be number one goalkeeper somewhere.
#4 Anthony Martial
Anthony Martial has been involved in eight goals – four goals and four assists – despite playing just 280 minutes all season in the league.
The Frenchman had a slightly unimpressive first season under Jose Mourinho, failing to consolidate a first-team spot with the Red Devils, but this season he looks to be out to show the boss he deserves to play.
He may not be starting, but every time the winger has been afforded an opportunity from the bench, he has capitalised. Firstly, against West Ham in United’s opening game, he came off the bench with just a few minutes left and scored himself, before setting up Paul Pogba. In United’s second game he once again came off the bench and scored. He has been proving to be a huge threat coming on as a substitution.
Marcus Rashford is currently ahead of the forward in the pecking order, however, it may not be long before Martial confirms the left wing spot as his. He is a player who definitely doesn’t deserve to be on the bench.
#3 Julian Draxler
Despite his goal and assists statistics not being spectacular throughout his whole career, Julian Draxler is unquestionably a very good player, who shouldn’t be on the bench.
The German is still just 24 years old and still yet to really hit his prime, but he is regularly sat on the bench for PSG. The French outfit do have Neymar, Angel Di Maria and Kylian Mbappe, but Draxler is in his own right a world-class player.
The German is extremely intelligent and hard-working and deserves more than a bit part role, which is what he has at PSG right now. Although as mentioned he hasn’t ever particularly scored or assisted a lot of goals, his contribution during games is still fantastic.
It looks like he could potentially make a move in either the January transfer window or next summer. Any club that he decides to move to, he will be a first-team regular, because he could definitely start for almost any club in Europe.
#2 Bernardo Silva
After a marvellous season with AS Monaco last season, Bernardo Silva was expected to hit the ground running in an attacking Pep Guardiola side. However, the Portuguese international cannot get into the City side.
His fabulous technical ability and feet would make him a fantastic addition to most teams around the world and he arguably deserves a bit more of a chance at City currently. With the Citizens playing predominantly with three at the back, it’s making it difficult for Silva to get a game.
Additionally, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane playing as well as they are, it’s hard to justify Silva getting a game. But, he has had very few opportunities to even prove himself off the bench, making it difficult for him to break into the side at all.
He may be on the bench at the moment, but he is a player who doesn’t deserve to be on the bench for any club given his magnificent ability.
#1 James Rodriguez
Some of the other names mentioned are only on the bench due to other big names being ahead of them. James Rodriguez, however, is not one of those, he most definitely deserves to be in the starting 11 at the moment.
After the 2014 World Cup, Rodriguez was snapped up by Real Madrid and anticipated to be a future Ballon d'Or winner. But he has really failed to live up to expectations. He is still a magnificent player, but his time at Madrid was certainly considered as unsuccessful.
In a new fresh start on loan at Bayern this season, Rodriguez should have been given a new lease of life and regular game time, but the Colombian has failed to see much football so far. Thomas Muller, Franck Ribery and Kingsley Coman have all been playing more frequently than Rodriguez, even despite their poor form.
Rodriguez is more gifted and suited to Bayern’s intricate play than those names, and should be a regular name on the team sheet to help Bayern turn their season around.
