Pep Guardiola has admitted that he is unsure of the severity of the injury that Rodri suffered in Manchester City’s pulsating 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League.
The Spain international – who experienced a disrupted start to the season due to a hamstring injury – was in the wars against the Gunners, firstly going down holding his face after smashing into Kai Havertz in the first few seconds.
Rodri quickly dusted himself down after that incident, but the former Atletico Madrid fulcrum was then left sprawled on the turf for a second time not long after, as he came off worse in a tussle with Thomas Partey at a corner.
As Rodri writhed in agony clutching his knee, it became clear that the 28-year-old had likely suffered a serious injury, and he made way for Mateo Kovacic just after the 20-minute mark.
Following the loss of their integral engine room enforcer, City lost the lead given to them by Erling Haaland as Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes struck for the Gunners, but John Stones came off the bench to rescue a point for the champions in the 98th minute.
Guardiola makes Rodri Ballon d’Or claim after Arsenal injury
Guardiola was inevitably quizzed on the seriousness of Rodri’s problem in his post-game press conference, although the Catalan coach admitted that he was none the wiser straight after the match.
“I don’t know yet. I didn’t ask the doctors. He is strong. He leaves the pitch and his action is he felt something otherwise he would stay there,” Guardiola told reporters, before also going on to give Rodri his seal of approval for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
“He is the best holding midfielder in the world and potentially a Ballon D’Or winner, I would love it [if he won]. These are the type of games, against Arsenal, and it’s like that. We have to handle it and in many things we did it.”
Rodri was making his first start of the Premier League season on Sunday, and just his second appearance from the first whistle in any tournament this term after playing the full 90 against Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek.
While City will await the results of further examinations, the Spain international will almost certainly miss Tuesday’s EFL Cup third-round clash with Watford and is an early doubt for next Saturday’s trip to face Newcastle United in the top flight.
How can Man City replace Rodri?
Guardiola may not be short of competent midfield options willing to step into Rodri’s shoes, but the Euro 2024 winner is undoubtedly one of the few players in world football who boasts the irreplaceable tag.
Until official news of Rodri’s condition is released, Citizens fans could be forgiven for fearing the worst, and his absence could see Guardiola revert to the Kovacic-Rico Lewis partnership that started the first three games of the season.
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Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Matheus Nunes and Kevin De Bruyne can also slot into a deeper midfield role, although the latter is also sidelined with a groin problem, and it is still not clear when he will be back in action.
The City boss could also call upon one of his Under-21s stars in 18-year-old Jacob Wright, who has made a brilliant start to the 2024-25 Premier League 2 season with two goals and three assists in just three games.
Wright made two appearances for City in the FA Cup and Champions League last season, and the teenager is a strong candidate to start Tuesday’s clash with Watford, where Guardiola could make a full 11 changes.
