Pep Guardiola is already dealing with a tough season, and the news that Rodri has suffered an ACL injury adds a massive hurdle to his plans. The midfielder will probably be out of action until next year. Sources indicate the injury happened in the 20th minute of the 2-2 draw against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, where Rodri tore the ACL in his right knee during a non-contact collision with Thomas Partey. Surgery is now the next step for the player.
The severity of the situation was evident during the match; the length of time the medical staff spent with Rodri, his expression of agony, and his gesture to Guardiola suggesting his game was over all foreshadowed the bad news. Guardiola later remarked on Rodri's strength, explaining that the player only left the field because he felt something serious happen, as he normally would have fought to stay in the game.
The official confirmation following Monday's scans in Spain is a devastating blow for Manchester City. In terms of impact, the only thing that could possibly compare to losing Rodri would be the absence of Erling Haaland, though even that might be slightly less critical.
Guardiola has previously highlighted just how vital the 28-year-old Spaniard is to the team's structure. Back in February, the manager praised him as an exceptional talent and comfortably the best midfielder in the world due to his versatility and complete skill set.
The manager specifically praised Rodri's ability to control the tempo and his composure under pressure. Whether he's pushing forward into the box or dropping back to defend, his range of passing—both short and long—is unmatched. Guardiola described him as a brilliant signing, admitting that it's hard to imagine City's success in recent years without him.
Rodri's importance is backed up by the numbers; he is essentially irreplaceable, and his absence will be a massive headache for Guardiola. When Rodri plays, City are nearly invincible, having lost only once in 2024 (the FA Cup final against Manchester United). Their Premier League form with him in the side has been even more dominant.
Since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019, City's record without him is telling: they've lost seven out of the twenty-one Premier League matches he missed, a 33% loss rate. In contrast, across 174 league appearances, they've only lost 19 times with him on the pitch, which is a mere 11% failure rate.
Playing one of the hardest roles in football, Rodri is widely seen as the best in the world. He went on a remarkable run of 52 consecutive Premier League starts without a defeat, starting from February 2023. However, the void he leaves is clear; last season, City lost both league games he missed due to suspension, specifically against Newcastle and Wolves.
If not for John Stones' dramatic late equalizer against Arsenal, City would have suffered another loss without Rodri. Now, with a massive gap in their midfield, City face a risky trip to Newcastle this weekend, marking their first league test without the Spaniard.
The real problem for Guardiola is the lack of a like-for-like replacement. Mateo Kovacic is the most likely option, but he doesn't possess Rodri's ability to dictate the game. Then there is Matheus Nunes, the £53 million signing from Wolves; while he'll likely get minutes, he hasn't made a real impact and might have been sold this summer if Kalvin Phillips hadn't been loaned to Ipswich.