Rodri’s injury makes things much more complicated for Manchester City

Sep 24, 2024, 09:36 ET

Pep Guardiola was always waiting for him an uphill battle with Manchester City this seasonbut the grim news of the anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered by Rodriwhich will probably prevent him from playing until next season, he assumes A hard blow for Guardiola and his team.

Sources consulted by ESPN indicate that the defensive midfielder Rodri will have to undergo surgery after having suffered a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Following a seemingly innocuous collision with Arsenal’s Thomas Partey in the 20th minute of Sunday’s 2-2 draw against the Gunners at the Etihad.

Rodri could miss the entire season after being injured against Arsenal. EFE/EPA/PETER POWELL

Rodri’s painful reaction, the long treatment he underwent on the pitch and the gesture he made to Guardiola as he left the pitch, indicating with his arms that “it’s over”, hinted at the bad news that was coming. Guardiola’s statement after the match –“[Rodri] “He is strong. He left the pitch, and his action means that he felt something, otherwise he would have continued” — underlining the reality that the player would not have given up on his attempt to continue playing unless it was a serious problem.

The bad news came after the images taken on Monday in Spain, and The result is a blow for City. Solo The absence of striker Erling Haaland could be considered a major problem for Guardiolabut only just.

Earlier this year, Guardiola made it clear how much his team of conquerors relies on the 28-year-old former Atletico Madrid player“He’s an incredible player,” Guardiola said in February. “He’s the best midfielder in the world, by far. That’s because he has the ability to do everything.

“It’s the pace he has, and in particular his character when things go wrong. He moves forward to get into the box, he goes back, he has the ability to play short and long. He’s always prepared.

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“What a signing. Manchester City have brought in a player without whom it is difficult to understand what we have done in recent years. It would have been difficult.”

Rodri is irreplaceable – his career with City indicates this – and his absence is another big headache for Guardiola.City have lost just one game in 2024 with Rodri in the team – the FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United at Wembley last season – and their league run is even more impressive with him in the team.

Of the 21 Premier League games Rodri has missed since joining from Atletico in the summer of 2019, City have lost seven: 33% of the games played without RodriIn total, they have lost 19 times in 174 Premier League games – a loss ratio of 11%.

Rodri is the best in the world in a difficult position. According to ESPN’s Statistics and Information Group, the Spanish midfielder He led the Premier League last season in touches (4124), passes completed (3359), progressive passes (521), runs with the ball (2629) and distance covered with the ball (11,662 metres/12,754 yards)He also finished second in recoveries (in essence, “possession won”) with 235 (two fewer than Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes). He also led Manchester City in tackles attempted (70), tackles made (43), duels successful (174) and aerial duels won (55).

Sunday was also the 52nd consecutive game that Rodri has started City without defeat in the Premier League, a run stretching back to a loss to Tottenham in February 2023. But when he missed two league games through suspension last season, City lost both – at Newcastle and Wolves.

Had it not been for John Stones’ dramatic injury-time equaliser against Arsenal on Sunday, City would have lost again without RodriWith City visiting Newcastle again this weekend in their first full game without the Spanish midfielder, the risk of suffering another defeat with a Rodri-sized hole in the squad is real.

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Guardiola’s problem is that he doesn’t have anyone of the same calibre to replace him. Former Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic is the most likely candidatebut he doesn’t control games like Rodri. Matheus Nunes could also get minutes, but the £53m signing from Wolves last year hasn’t done much for City; he would have left the club this summer had it not been for the decision to loan Kalvin Phillips to Ipswich Town.

Phillips could have been a useful option if he was still at the club, but the former Leeds and England man has only been a peripheral figure under Guardiola so would not have been considered a real solution.

John Stones, who was moved from his usual central position to play as a holding midfielder in the closing stages of City’s treble-winning campaign in 2022-23, is perhaps the most likely replacement, playing alongside Kovacic. But Stones excelled in midfield because he played alongside Rodri, almost in a master-apprentice relationship. Without Rodri’s experience, vision and ability to dispel danger before it arises, the question Guardiola must answer is whether Stones can be as effective playing with Kovacic rather than Rodri.

The next option is to wait until the transfer market reopens in January. City, who made a net profit of £99m during the summer transfer window, will have plenty of funds with which to bring in a top-class replacement, but by then the club’s fate with the Premier League audience will be known or imminent.

An independent hearing into Manchester City’s alleged 115 breaches of Premier League financial regulations – a figure that has since been raised to 130 following a correction by the Premier League of the original reported total – began last Monday, which could see the club face a huge fine and points deduction. If things go against City, finding a player willing to go to the Etihad amid uncertainty over the club’s future will be a challenge, and by then, who knows how damaging the loss of Rodri will have been to the title race.

Arsenal and Liverpool, the teams most likely to dethrone City as Premier League champions, will try to take advantage of Rodri’s absence and test City’s ability to win without him.

Without a doubt, he is a top-level player, and Only Vinícius Júnior has more than him in the race for this year’s Ballon d’Or, according to the bookmakersThis summer he was already voted best player at Euro 2024, so his credentials are beyond doubt.

What is in doubt, however, is City’s ability to cope without him during a season in which they have plenty of distractions to deal with, both on and off the pitch.