Manchester City may have to do without its centerpiece for longer. Rodri was injured in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal – which brings back some unpleasant statistics.
Last week, Rodri caused a stir when he no longer ruled out a players’ strike in view of the increasing pressure on top players. Now the Manchester City midfielder faces a potentially long break from playing for other reasons.
In the turbulent 2-2 draw in the Premier League top game against Arsenal on Sunday, Rodri had to be substituted in the 21st minute – just before the visitors equalized to make it 1-1 – after colliding with Thomas five minutes earlier. The European champion held his right knee and limped off the pitch in pain.
A first diagnosis is still pending. “I don’t know yet, I haven’t asked the doctors,” said coach Pep Guardiola cautiously, but he suspected nothing good: ‘Rodri is strong. He left the field because he felt something, otherwise he would have stayed there.’
Rodri had to be treated on the pitch for the first time in the first minute after taking a check from Kai Havertz. “Games against Arsenal are like that, we have to deal with it. We did that. We did a lot of good things,” said Guardiola, avoiding a verbal indictment.
Guardiola: ‘Rodri is the best defensive midfielder in the world’
Should Rodri be out for a longer period of time, it would nevertheless hit the coach hard: “He is the best defensive midfielder in the world, a potential Ballon d’Or winner, I would be very happy for him.” Did ManCity only manage to get a lucky point against Arsenal, despite being a man up for a long time, because of Rodri’s absence? Guardiola, who brought on Mateo Kovacic and moved Ruben Dias further forward, at least hinted at it: “With him it might have been different.”
The statistics of recent years also suggest it: Since Rodri came in 2019, ManCity lost 11 percent of the games when he played, 24 percent when he was missing. In the previous season alone, the champions conceded all three league defeats without the Spaniard, who was suspended in each case.