Manchester City’s 1-1 draw against Newcastle on Saturday marked the team’s first Premier League match without central midfielder Rodri, who will miss the rest of the season due to an ACL injury. Pep Guardiola, the team’s manager, is now tasked with finding a solution for Rodri’s absence, an influential player in City’s lineup.
Guardiola fielded a restructured midfield at St. James’ Park, featuring Rico Lewis, a fullback playing out of position, alongside Mateo Kovacic, with Bernardo Silva moving into a central role later in the game. Despite the unfamiliar setup, Guardiola praised their efforts, acknowledging that while they cannot replicate Rodri’s contributions, their performance was “exceptional.”
“Guys, I’m going to tell you — I know you’re going to ask me all the time — of course you’re going to miss Rodri, his physicality, his presence. I know,” Guardiola said. He emphasized the loss of Rodri, describing him as “irreplaceable,” but focused on evaluating the performance of Lewis, Kovacic, and Silva.
City’s midfield faces challenges without Rodri, who is instrumental in orchestrating the team’s attack and providing defensive cover. Guardiola, known for his tactical flexibility, will need to devise new strategies in the coming months. Ilkay Gundogan, another potential candidate for the holding midfield role, could be used in that position. Kevin De Bruyne, typically a more advanced playmaker, might also drop deeper, though he is currently sidelined with an injury, along with Oscar Bobb and defender Nathan Ake.
“I would love Rodri to be here and Oscar Bobb be here and Kevin be here and Ake be here. I would love it,” Guardiola added. “But it is what it is.”
Manchester City now faces the challenge of continuing their campaign without one of their key players, with Guardiola relying on the depth and versatility of his squad to maintain their competitive edge.
