Manchester City’s star midfielder Rodri could be sidelined for months, or potentially the remainder of the season, according to multiple reports. The Spaniard suffered a knee injury in the 21st minute of City’s high-stakes clash with Arsenal, leading to his substitution. The Citizens struggled to contain Arsenal’s relentless pressure after Rodri’s exit, only catching a break when Leandro Trossard was shown a red card.
Reports suggest that Rodri’s injury may keep him out for a significant period, raising serious concerns for City. Coach Pep Guardiola has previously highlighted Rodri’s irreplaceable role in the squad. The midfielder’s dominance was recently showcased when he won Euro 2024’s Player of the Tournament award. Now, City faces the difficult question: how do you replace the irreplaceable?
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Last season, City lost four out of five games in Rodri’s absence, making it a real challenge for Guardiola to adjust the squad just six games into this season.
Rodri’s Impact on Manchester City
Since joining in 2019, Rodri has played 260 matches for Manchester City, losing only 11% of those games. In his absence, however, the team’s losses jump to 24% in 45 matches, underscoring his critical importance to the squad.
Rodri ranks second in the Premier League in possessions won (1,348) since August 2019, only behind Declan Rice (1,356). His control of the game is evident in his passing stats—Rodri has completed the most passes in the Premier League with 13,699, and he leads the league in successful passes in the opposition half with 7,965.
Who Can Fill Rodri’s Shoes?
Manchester City will need to explore several options to fill the gap left by Rodri. Ilkay Gündogan, who returned to City this season, has experience playing in a similar role. John Stones has also proven capable of stepping into the position when required. Another option is Mateo Kovačić, who could take on the role more regularly.
Guardiola may even consider changing the team’s formation to adapt to Rodri’s absence, but it remains to be seen if anyone can fully replicate the Spaniard’s influence on the pitch.
