Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola delivers a concerning update on “irreplaceable” midfielder Rodri, who is facing a lengthy period on the sidelines with a knee injury.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that star midfielder Rodri will be out for “a long, long time” and requires surgery on a knee injury.
The 28-year-old limped off injured in the 21st minute of the Citizens’ 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday after jarring his knee following an innocuous coming-together with Thomas Partey at a corner.
Rodri underwent a round of medical tests on Monday morning and multiple reports have since emerged claiming that the Spain international will be ruled out for the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his right knee.
City’s No.16 has since travelled to Barcelona where he will undergo further assessment, with a full prognosis not yet available.
Guardiola is still unsure over the severity of Rodri’s injury, but the Catalan coach has confirmed that he will require surgery and is facing a lengthy period on the sidelines.
© Imago
Guardiola confirms knee surgery for Rodri
Speaking about Rodri at a post-match press conference following City’s 2-1 EFL Cup win over Watford on Tuesday night, Guardiola said: “Still, we don’t have the definitive [answer].
“He’ll be out for a long time, a while, but there is some opinions that maybe it will be less than we expect.
“Unfortunately he was injured. Right now, still, I cannot tell you [how long] because we’re waiting the last phone calls from him and the doctors to know exactly what, definitely, he has and the type of surgery that he has to get.”
Guardiola has admitted that the absence of Rodri – who he believes is “the best holding midfielder in world football” – will leave a huge void in his Man City team, but he is tasked with ‘finding a solution’.
“We don’t want this, but we will still have a good season. I trust a lot in my players, I have a duty to find a solution,” Guardiola added.
“Rodri is irreplaceable and the team won’t play with the best midfielder in the world for a long, long time. Of course it’s a big, big blow for us.
“But it’s football, it’s happened, and my duty is to find a solution, to be competitive like we have been for many years.”
© Imago
Guardiola: ‘I will find a solution in Rodri absence’
After Rodri’s withdrawal against Arsenal, Man City fell behind and were trailing the 10-men Gunners 2-1 until John Stones scored a dramatic 98th-minute equaliser to snatch a point at the death, moving the Citizens back to the top of the Premier League table.
The midfielder was making his first Premier League start of the new season as his workload was being managed by Man City after he won Euro 2024 with Spain in the summer.
Since joining Man City in 2019, Rodri has developed into a hugely influential player for Guardiola’s side, making a total of 260 appearances in all competitions and helping the club win 11 trophies, including four successive Premier League titles and one Champions League.
Man City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that Rodri’s knee injury “could be a season-changing blow” for Guardiola’s side.
In the absence of Rodri, Guardiola is expected to turn to the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Matheus Nunes, Rico Lewis, Stones and Kevin De Bruyne to operate in a deeper midfield role.
De Bruyne, however, is doubtful for Saturday’s Premier League game against Newcastle United as he is yet to take part in training since picking up a groin issue in the 0-0 Champions League draw with Inter Milan last week.