Manchester City’s 2024-25 season ended without any trophies, a shocking outcome largely attributed to a series of injuries affecting key first-team players, most notably Rodri.
The captain of the Spanish national team suffered a severe knee injury that sidelined him for a significant portion of the season, marking City’s first trophy-less year in eight seasons under Pep Guardiola.
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In 2024, Rodri received the prestigious Ballon d’Or, solidifying his reputation as the world’s top player and underscoring his vital role within Guardiola’s squad.
Despite returning to health and appearing in 35 matches for both club and country this season, Rodri has faced further setbacks, dealing with a hamstring issue and now a groin injury.
Guardiola mentioned that Rodri had begun partial training on Thursday, but his fitness will be evaluated before a decision is made on his potential participation against Brentford this Saturday (kick-off at 17:30 BST).
“We managed to cope without him for many months,” Guardiola said. “He doesn’t feel entirely comfortable yet. He will be ready when he is fit— we’ll know more on Friday afternoon or Saturday.”
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With a vital FA Cup final against Chelsea scheduled for next Saturday, followed by league matches against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa, Guardiola is optimistic that Rodri will be back to full fitness for these upcoming matches.
Everton result leaves City chasing
Rodri played an influential role in the Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal, and Guardiola noted in March that the 29-year-old was gradually improving “step by step.”
He was crucial in City’s 2-1 win over the Gunners, which gave them an edge in the title race, but had to leave the field with a groin injury late in that match in April.
As a result, he missed crucial matches, including hard-fought wins against Burnley in the Premier League and Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final, especially missing the dramatic 3-3 draw against Everton on Monday.
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In that match, City blew a lead and relinquished their advantage in the title race by allowing three goals within 13 minutes of the second half before salvaging a draw with a late strike from Jeremy Doku.
City’s defense was repeatedly breached, with the midfield providing little cover, leading to critical moments in the match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Guardiola believes that, despite the chaotic nature of the game leaving City five points behind league leaders Arsenal with a game in hand, Rodri’s absence was not directly responsible for the outcome.
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Guardiola remarked, “It’s not just about him. We conceded those goals independently of Rodri’s presence.”
Has the impact of Rodri’s absence been exaggerated?
Throughout Rodri’s successful tenure at Manchester City, it is evident that Pep Guardiola’s team performs better with him on the field compared to when he is absent.
This perspective aligns with the statistics; since his debut in August 2019, City boasts improved win percentages, scores, fewer goals against, and more possession in Premier League matches when Rodri plays.
Most of his absences occurred in the past two seasons. During City’s remarkable four consecutive league title wins, Rodri missed only seven matchday squads, with three of those due to suspension.
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The start of the 2024-25 season was marked by an ACL tear sustained just five weeks before he won the Ballon d’Or, causing him to miss over seven months of play; during that time, Liverpool claimed the league title.
This season has been hampered by a hamstring injury, yet reassuringly for City supporters, the statistics suggest Guardiola’s team is adapting to his absence.
In the 11 matches he missed between late September and New Year’s Day, City won nine.
Rodri has made 195 league appearances in his six seasons with the club, and Guardiola previously dubbed him “the best midfielder in the world by far.”
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While his physical strength and skill in possession are vital to City’s success, it seems that the extent of his absence’s impact this season may be somewhat overstated.