Pep Guardiola was always facing an uphill battle at Manchester City this season, but the grim news of Rodri suffering an ACL injury that is likely to rule the midfielder out until next season has now given Guardiola and his team a mountain to climb.
Sources have told ESPN that defensive midfielder Rodri will undergo surgery after tearing the ACL 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’s pained reaction, the lengthy treatment he underwent on the pitch and his gesture to Guardiola as he left the pitch, signalling with his arms that it was “over,” hinted at the bad news to come. Guardiola’s post-match admission — “[Rodri] is strong. He leaves the pitch and his action is he felt something otherwise he would stay there” — underlined the reality that the player would not have abandoned his attempt to play on unless it was a serious problem.
The bad news came following scans in Spain on Monday, and the outcome is a hammer blow for City. Only the loss of striker Erling Haaland could be regarded as a bigger problem for Guardiola to deal with, but only by a fraction.
Earlier this year, Guardiola made clear just how much his all-conquering team relies on the 28-year-old former Atletico Madrid player. “He’s an unbelievable player,” Guardiola said in February. “He’s the best midfield player in the world by far. It’s because he’s able to do everything.
“It’s the tempo he has, especially his character when the situation is going wrong, he steps forward to arrive to the box, go backwards, 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.”
Last Monday, the independent hearing began into Man City’s alleged 115 breaches of Premier League financial regulation — a number that since increased to 130 following a correction by the Premier League of the originally reported total — which could result in the club being hit by a massive fine and points deduction. If it goes against City, finding a player to make the move to the Etihad amid uncertainty over the club’s future will be a tough challenge and by then, who knows how damaging Rodri’s loss will already have been in the race for the title.
Arsenal and Liverpool, the teams most likely to dethrone City as Premier League champions, will aim to profit from Rodri’s absence and test City’s ability to win without him.
He is unquestionably a world-class player, with only Vinícius Júnior ahead of him in the race to win this year’s Ballon d’Or according to the betting odds. He already earned the distinction of being voted the Player of the Tournament at Euro 2024 this summer, so his credentials are not in doubt.
What is in doubt, however, is City’s ability to cope without him in a season when they have so many distractions to overcome, on and off the pitch.
