Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is anxiously awaiting the next medical update regarding midfielder Rodri. There are growing concerns that the Spaniard may be sidelined for an extended period due to a knee injury.
The depth of quality within City’s squad is notable, yet certain players stand out as irreplaceable, with silky defensive midfielder Rodri undoubtedly among them.
Since his transfer from Atletico Madrid in 2019, Rodri has made 174 appearances in the Premier League for Manchester City, experiencing defeat on just 19 occasions while securing victory 129 times.
Significantly, the likelihood of City facing defeat increases substantially in the absence of his presence in the midfield.
In the 21 Premier League matches that City played without him, the team suffered seven losses, resulting in a loss rate of 33%. In contrast, when he was on the field, the loss rate dropped significantly to 10.9%. In the previous season, City experienced three defeats in the initial half without Rodri, facing losses against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Arsenal, and Aston Villa. However, following his return from injury, the team did not suffer any further losses.
Statistics reveal that few players impact all areas of the pitch as significantly as Rodri.
Since his arrival in England, Rodri has completed the most passes in the opposition’s half compared to any other player, with Declan Rice ranking just above him for winning back possession.
In straightforward terms, he excels at regaining possession of the ball and promptly utilizing it to a significant advantage.
This skill set has established City as the preeminent power in England and has contributed to Spain’s resurgence in European football.
In the last 18 months, the City or Spain national team featuring Rodri has experienced just a single loss, which came during City’s unexpected FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United last season.
The 28-year-old, who netted an impressive 12 goals for both club and country last season, is generating significant buzz as a contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or. This speculation is further fueled by Guardiola’s evident concern when his key midfielder exited the pitch in distress during the early stages of Sunday’s intense 2-2 draw against title rivals Arsenal.
Rodri orchestrated a superb opening spell for City in the clash at the Etihad. The hosts were dominating and leading 1-0 when he fell following an innocuous clash with Thomas Partey.
As soon as he departed the pitch, Arsenal found the net to level the score. After falling behind, Manchester City required a late equalizer from John Stones, who struck eight minutes into stoppage time, to escape with a draw against the 10-man Gunners and avoid a potentially damaging loss.
Mateo Kovacic serves as a direct substitute for Rodri; however, should the worst fears be confirmed regarding Rodri’s potentially season-ending ACL knee injury, Manchester City’s chances of clinching a fifth consecutive Premier League title would diminish considerably.
