Brief Introduction of Rodri
Rodri is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Manchester City and the Spanish national team. He signed with Manchester City in 2019. He’s had a good record since joining City.
Rodri Man City Stats
This brilliant Man City midfielder made his Premier League debut against West Ham United, helping Manchester City win 5-0 away from home.
In the 2021-22 domestic season, Rodri averaged 82 passes completed per 90 minutes, with a passing completion rate of 91.8% for the whole season. Rodri’s stats made him the top Premier League midfielder in both categories. He attempted a pass every 60.5 seconds on average, the most among all Premier League midfielders.
On July 12, 2022, Rodri extended his contract with Manchester City until 2027.
In 2023, Rodri helped Manchester City win the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League, completing the treble. He was named Player of the Match in the Champions League final.
Rodri was also named the best player of the European Championship last season and is one of the favorites for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
However, Rodri suffered an unfortunate injury in Manchester City’s Premier League match against Arsenal. On September 27th, City manager Pep Guardiola announced that Rodri would miss the rest of the season. But he will return for the next season.
How Rodri’s Injury Happened?
Rodri’s injury occurred on September 22 during Manchester City’s match against Arsenal. In the 22nd minute, he collided with Thomas Partey and was injured. He limped off the field and was replaced by Mateo Kovacic. Despite City’s efforts to maintain form, they couldn’t beat Arsenal and ended the match in a draw. Rodri has now had surgery, but his injury raises widely concerns about its impact on Manchester City’s future matches and his career.
The Importance of Rodri at Man City
It’s clear that Manchester City’s previous victories were closely tied to this midfielder.
In last season’s Premier League, Manchester City defeated Arsenal with Rodri playing. In contrast, this season, without Rodri, City only managed a draw against Arsenal. Additionally, in the five Premier League games Rodri missed last season, City lost four. In international competitions, City lost only one match in 50 games with Rodri in the lineup.
According to Opta stats, since Rodri joined Manchester City in 2019, the team’s win rate with him is 73%, while without him, the win rate drops to 64%.
This shows how crucial Rodri‘s presence is to Manchester City’s success.
With City announcing Rodri‘s absence for the season, the big question is how City will handle the upcoming matches without such an important player.
Manchester City’s Strategy without Rodri
First, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has emphasized teamwork in Rodri‘s absence. He aims to compensate for Rodri‘s absence by adjusting the team’s overall cooperation.
Second, other players like Mateo Kovacic, John Stones, and Bernardo Silva could step in to fill Rodri‘s role. While they might not fully replace him, they can help.
Lastly, Manchester City will assess whether to sign a new midfielder in the winter transfer window to cope with Rodri‘s long-term absence.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Rodri plays a crucial role for Manchester City. The team now needs to come up with a solid strategy to handle Rodri‘s long-term absence. Otherwise, this Premier League season could be tough for them. Manchester City has won the title for the past four seasons, and fans are hoping they can continue to perform well in the matches ahead.