Manchester City faces challenge after Rodri injury, Pep Guardiola weighs options

Manchester City must find a way to cope without Rodri, who is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Manchester City’s Premier League campaign has been hit with a major setback after midfielder Rodri suffered an injury during their 2-2 draw with Arsenal on September 22, 2024. The Spaniard, regarded as one of the best holding midfielders in the world, is expected to miss the remainder of the season, leaving City with a significant void in their midfield. 

Pep Guardiola acknowledged the challenge, calling Rodri "the best holding midfielder in the world" and a "potential Ballon d'Or winner." after the draw against Arsenal.

With Rodri sidelined, Guardiola will need to reshuffle his team to maintain City’s momentum. Mateo Kovacic could be tasked with filling the role, though Guardiola admitted that the Croatian lacks the defensive instincts and mobility of Rodri. Matheus Nunes is another option, but similar concerns about his defensive presence were raised. During Rodri’s earlier absence at the start of the season, Guardiola used a midfield pairing of Kovacic and Rico Lewis, a setup he might now return to.

Manchester City is also grappling with the ongoing injury of Kevin De Bruyne, who missed the Arsenal match as well. While De Bruyne offers a different skill set than Rodri, his absence adds to the team's challenges. Despite these setbacks, Guardiola is focused on finding solutions to keep Manchester City in contention as the season progresses.