Man City Left Without a Key Player. How Will They Play Now?

Pep Guardiola is always coming up with something, but replacing Rodri is one of the toughest challenges yet.

It's not just any top player who got injured; it's possibly the best player in the world right now. He’s at least in the top two contenders for the 2023/2024 Ballon d'Or. However, there’s an inside scoop that Vinícius will still be named the best player in the world. We previously explained why Rodri is more deserving, but losing a player of this caliber is a significant blow for City and European football.

What injury does Rodri have?

Rodri missed the start of the Premier League due to an injury sustained in the EURO 2024 Final. He made his first appearance of this Premier League season only in the 5th round against Arsenal. Unfortunately, this will likely be his last match of the season.

In the 16th minute, City played a low corner, and Rodri collided with Thomas Partey in the box. Replays showed that the challenge wasn’t rough, but the Spaniard fell, clutching his right knee, and his facial expression showed it wasn’t just a minor knock. Partey immediately apologized, and other players gathered around. Coincidentally, Rodri and Barcelona’s goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen suffered ACL injuries on the same day.

The game was paused for a while. Four minutes later, Rodri managed to stand and leave the pitch alone with medical help. City brought on Mateo Kovačić, and Arsenal turned the game around, scoring twice in the first half. Arsenal's first goal came right after Rodri left the field, and in the end, City missed out on a win by just a few seconds in Manchester.

Why is Rodri so crucial for City?

Kevin De Bruyne has long been City’s leading star in midfield, known for his crucial assists. However, replacing De Bruyne isn’t as detrimental as losing Rodri. The stats speak for themselves. Last season, Rodri played in 34 Premier League matches, and City didn’t lose a single one. In the other four games, City only managed one home win (against Luton) and suffered three defeats (against Wolves, Arsenal, and Aston Villa).

If you look at the end of the season before last, the pattern is the same. Rodri played 16 times – zero defeats. The only loss came when he was rested in the final game against Brentford. Although City’s success isn’t solely for Rodri, the connection is clear. Over the last 600 days, City lost only once with him in the team – the FA Cup final against Manchester United (1-2). They also lost to Real Madrid, but not in regular time.

Rodri’s importance comes from his unique skill set. Not only does he break up counterattacks, but he also dictates the tempo of City's play. He often leads the team in accurate passes, sometimes completing over 150 passes per game – a rarity. His influence keeps opponents away from City’s goal by intercepting the ball and maintaining possession under pressure. Many remember his winning goal in the Champions League final, but that’s not even the most characteristic aspect of his game.

How will City play now?

Under Guardiola, City’s defensive midfielder has always been a fundamental player. First, it was Fernandinho, and then Rodri. Now, the team doesn’t have a similar player. According to Fabrizio Romano, City doesn’t plan to sign any free agents. So, the solution must come from within the squad.

The most obvious replacement is Kovačić, who came on when Rodri was injured against Arsenal. Mateo is good at making tackles. Their ball-winning stats are similar, though Kovačić operates more in his defensive third. In contrast, Rodri is more active in the middle and final third. In terms of off-the-ball play, Kovačić seems like the best replacement.

Another option is Ilkay Gündoğan, who fortunately returned from Barcelona, where he was one of the best players. We’ve seen that Gündoğan can play deeper for City, though it’s not an obvious choice. He would work better against weaker teams, as Gündoğan isn’t known for physical battles. However, his vision and passing are superior to Kovačić's.

Guardiola might also come up with some unique ideas. In the past, we’ve seen defenders like Oleksandr Zinchenko, Rico Lewis, and John Stones step into the defensive midfield role. City’s academy has also produced a player like Nico O'Reilly, who was heavily involved in summer preparations. He hasn’t yet played in the Premier League but made a substitute appearance in the Community Shield a month and a half ago. On September 24, the 19-year-old defensive midfielder made his debut in the starting lineup for City, playing 73 minutes in the Carabao Cup match against Watford (2-1). O'Reilly will likely be one of Guardiola’s options, as could Matheus Nunes, who hasn’t yet fully adapted to life at Manchester City.

What other impacts could Rodri's injury have?

It’s unlikely to affect the Ballon d'Or, awarded in a month. The injury happened in September and doesn’t relate to last season. It probably wouldn’t have affected his chances, even if it had occurred earlier. It would be touching to see Rodri accept the Ballon d'Or on crutches, but as we wrote before, it’s more likely the award will go to Vinícius Júnior.

Rodri’s injury could influence the ongoing players' dispute with FIFA and UEFA over the congested schedule. Players have been vocal about the overloaded calendar leading to injuries. Rodri himself said:

“Yes, I think we’re close to a strike. It’s not just my opinion. I think it’s the general position of players. If things continue like this, there will come a point where players have no other choice. I don’t know what will happen, but we are concerned. We are the ones suffering from the schedule. I think it’s too much. Someone needs to take care of us because we are the main actors in this sport or business; call it what you want,” Rodri told the BBC.

Rodri made this statement just five days before the match against Arsenal, in which he got injured. It’s worth noting that ACL injuries are often difficult to attribute to any specific cause. They can result from both physical challenges and non-contact situations. While fatigue might increase the risk, it’s not sure that Rodri's injury was directly caused by the heavy schedule, especially since he hadn’t played much in the last two months. Still, his comments on the packed calendar now seem even more significant.

Published by Patrick Jane
26.09.2024