Pep Guardiola is already facing an uphill battle at Manchester City this season. The former Spain player has an even bigger mountain to climb after learning that midfielder Rodri has sustained an ACL injury that will probably keep him out of action until next season. According to sources, the ACL in defensive midfielder Rodri’s right knee was torn in an apparent non-contact collision with Arsenal’s Thomas Partey in the 20th minute of Sunday’s 2-2 draw against the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium. Reports reveal that Rodri will now undergo surgery.
The long treatment Rodri received on the field, his agonized expression, and his gesture to Guardiola as he left the field, indicating with his arms that it was “over,” all suggested that awful news was on the way. Guardiola’s admission following the game: Rodri is powerful. The statement, “He leaves the pitch and his action is because he felt something else; he would stay there,” highlighted the fact that the athlete would not have given up trying to play unless there was a major issue.
The devastating news was received after scans in Spain on Monday, and it deals a severe blow to City. The only thing that might be considered a greater issue for Guardiola to handle is the loss of striker Erling Haaland, but only slightly.
Earlier this year, Guardiola made clear just how much his side relies on the 28-year-old Spanish footballer. He’s an unbelievable player. He’s the best midfield player in the world by far. It’s because he’s able to do everything, Guardiola said in February.
It’s the tempo he has, especially his character when the situation is going wrong; he steps forward to arrive at the box, goes backward, and has the ability to play short and long. He’s always ready. What a signing! Manchester City signed a player that is difficult to understand what we have done in recent years without him. It would’ve been difficult, he added.
Rodri is indispensable, as evidenced by his track record when wearing a City shirt, and Guardiola will be greatly inconvenienced by his absence. With Rodri in the lineup, City has only lost once in 2024 (the FA Cup final loss to Manchester United at Wembley the previous season), and their league run has been even more remarkable.
Since Rodri arrived from Atletico in the summer of 2019, City has lost seven of the twenty-one Premier League games he has missed (33% of the games played without Rodri). In 174 Premier League games, he has suffered 19 losses overall, an 11% losing ratio.
Rodri is the finest player in the world in a challenging position. Since a loss at Tottenham in February 2023, Rodri has started for City for 52 straight Premier League games during which he has not lost. However, City lost both of the league games he missed last season at Newcastle and Wolves—due to suspension.
Without John Stones’ thrilling stoppage-time equalizer against Arsenal on Sunday, City would have lost without Rodri once more. With a Rodri-sized hole in the squad, City runs the risk of losing this weekend when they visit Newcastle again in their first game without the Spain midfielder.
Guardiola’s issue is that he lacks a replacement of the same caliber. The most likely candidate is Mateo Kovacic, a former midfielder for Chelsea and Real Madrid, although he lacks Rodri’s game management skills. Even though Matheus Nunes, a £53 million acquisition from Wolves last year, is expected to play, he hasn’t produced much in City’s shirt and would have left the team this summer if Kalvin Phillips hadn’t been loaned to Ipswich Town.
