Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Manchester City midfielder Rodri will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery for an ACL injury. The club announced earlier this week that the Spanish international had sustained ligament damage to his right knee during the match against Arsenal, and suspicions that he would be sidelined until next season have now been officially confirmed.
“He had surgery this morning, ACL and some meniscus, we think,” Guardiola stated during a pre-match press conference ahead of City’s trip to Newcastle. “Next season he will be with us. This season is over. Unfortunately, we got the worst news, but that is what happened. We will be there to support him and move forward step by step.”
Rodri’s injury is a significant blow to Manchester City’s campaign, especially as they aim to secure a fifth consecutive Premier League title. The midfielder has been an integral part of Guardiola’s system, having lost just one match for club and country in the past 18 months. His presence in the center of the pitch has provided stability and control for City, making his absence a considerable challenge for the team to overcome.
In light of Rodri’s absence, Mateo Kovacic is expected to step into a more prominent role. Other midfield options include Ilkay Gundogan and Rico Lewis, who could be deployed in the deeper midfield position to help fill the void. However, Guardiola acknowledged that no single player could fully replace what Rodri brings to the team.
“What he [Rodri] gives us, we don’t have a similar player,” Guardiola admitted. “But the other players all together can replace what Rodri has given us since he arrived. We have to do it as a team and find a way to play during a lot of months without an important player.”
City will now need to adapt their style of play to cope with the loss of such a key figure in their squad. Guardiola’s emphasis on a collective approach suggests that he is prepared to make tactical adjustments to cover for Rodri’s absence, relying on the depth and versatility of his squad. The months ahead will test City’s resilience as they navigate this setback in their pursuit of silverware.
