Manchester City's Midfielder Rodri Sidelined with Knee Injury for Extended Period
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Rodri's knee ligament injury will be a major setback for the team this season. The 28-year-old midfielder sustained the injury during City's 2-2 Premier League draw against Arsenal, and will soon consult a specialist in Spain to assess the full severity.
Rodri, who has been a key player for both City and the Spanish national team, was forced to leave the field in the first half of Sunday’s match. Initial reports suggest he could be sidelined for the remainder of the season. Following City’s League Cup victory over Watford, Guardiola revealed that the midfielder would be out for "a long time."
“Manchester City can confirm that Rodri has suffered a ligament injury to his right knee,” the club stated on Wednesday. Rodri, recently named the best player of the 2024 European Championship, has been crucial to Guardiola's success, helping City secure numerous Premier League titles since his arrival from Atletico Madrid in 2019. He has played 174 league games, contributing to 129 wins and suffering only 19 defeats during his time at the club.
Rodri's absence will be a significant challenge for City, who are pursuing their fifth consecutive Premier League title and currently sit atop the table with 13 points from five matches. Guardiola acknowledged the difficulty of replacing the midfielder but emphasized the need to adapt: “Rodri is irreplaceable,” he said after Tuesday’s win over Watford.
“When you lose the best midfielder in the world for a long period, it’s obviously a big blow, but my responsibility is to find a way to keep the team competitive. When one player is irreplaceable, the entire team must step up, and that’s what we’ll do.”