Rodri injury: Man City boss Pep Guardiola confirms midfielder’s season is over | Football News | Sky Sports

Rodri will miss the whole season through injury, Man City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed.

The midfielder has undergone surgery after injuring his knee in last Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League.

“He had surgery this morning, ACL and some meniscus,” Guardiola said at a press conference on Friday ahead of City’s trip to Newcastle.

“Next season he will be here. This season is over [for him]. It is what it is.

Report & highlights: Man City 2-2 ArsenalLive Premier League table | Man City fixturesStream the Premier League and more with NOWWatch free Premier League highlights”Unfortunately, we got the worst [news] but it is what it is at this level. Sometimes, unfortunately, it happens. We are just there to support him and [help him make a] good recovery, step by step, and move forward.

“What he gives us, we don’t have a similar player but the other players altogether can replace what Rodri has given since arriving here with us.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

After confirmation that Rodri suffered ligament damage during their 2-2 draw with Arsenal, here’s a look at how Manchester City perform without their star midfielder

“We will have to do it as a team and find a way to play a lot of matches without an important player for us.

“We are stronger with him and stronger with [Nathan] Ake and [Oscar] Bobb and Kevin [De Bruyne], but that is what it is. We don’t want it but it is football.

“As a club we have magnificent players and we will find a solution.”

Fellow midfielder De Bruyne will also miss Saturday’s game at Newcastle.

Rodri’s absence will leave a huge void, with the champions having not lost any of their last 48 Premier League matches in which he has featured.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights from the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal

He has been a vital component of four title-winning sides since joining the club in 2019. He scored the winning goal in the 2023 Champions League final and is one of the leading contenders to win this year’s Ballon d’Or award after helping Spain to Euro 2024 success.

Guardiola said: “It’s a lot of months without an important player for us, everybody knows it.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola last week shared Rodri’s concern for player welfare and suggests the mental toll of the relentless playing schedule perhaps outweight the physical demands

Only last week Rodri joined a host of high-profile players to speak out about the ever-increasing fixture workload facing the game’s top stars, and said he thought players could be “close” to striking because of the overloaded calendar.

Guardiola said Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic and John Stones can all step into Rodri’s role, but did not rule reinforcing his defensive midfield options when the transfer market reopens in January.

He added: “We will talk, we will see what is going on. We have time to see.”

Rodri’s injury has led to speculation that City could recall Kalvin Phillips early from his season-long loan spell at Ipswich.

But speaking ahead of his side’s clash with Aston Villa, live on Sky Sports on Sunday, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna indicated he thinks it’s unlikely Phillips will head back to the Etihad Stadium early.

“The honest answer is I’ve not checked. I don’t think there is (a recall clause), but I can’t tell you 100 per cent.

Image:
Kalvin Phillips joined Ipswich Town on loan over the summer

“I know the plan from our side, from his side, from Man City’s side is that he has a season with us and gets back to playing regularly.

“It’s about him helping our team and us helping him build back to a good place in his career. I’m sure that remains the plan on all sides.”

How does Pep replace Rodri?

Image:
Rodri leaves the field after suffering an injury during Man City’s Premier League clash with Arsenal

Finding a solution to Rodri’s absence could now define the Manchester City’s Premier League season.

But how will Pep Guardiola seek to do that? Some will suggest the January transfer window but whether a replacement even exists is debatable. More importantly, with 14 Premier League games to play before then, City cannot wait that long to fix this.

The answers must come from within. Players must step up, Guardiola must rethink things. And there are options.

Sky Sports’ Adam Bate takes a look at some of the individuals whose performances could now hold the key to the title race – for better or for worse.

How Rodri injury could impact title race

Image:
Rodri celebrates with the Premier League trophy

Sky Sports’ Zinny Boswell:

For all the debate and deliberation over the flashpoints in Sunday’s title showdown at the Etihad, Rodri’s injury could prove to be the incident that has the most repercussions for the rest of the season.

Rodri has arguably been City’s most influential figure in the second half of Pep Guardiola’s reign.

Image:
Manchester City’s record with and without Rodri since February 2023.

City have not lost a Premier League game that he has started since February 2023. Four of the 11 matches he has missed have resulted in defeat.

The champions now have to cope without him for a prolonged spell for the first time since he joined from Atletico Madrid in 2019.

Image:
Rodri’s Premier League stats since the start of last season.

Guardiola has options to replace Rodri, with Mateo Kovacic the player who tends to deputise at the base of midfield, but City are undoubtedly weaker without the 28-year-old.

It is no coincidence that City have won four titles in a row with Rodri an almost ever-present. He is the heartbeat of the team.

Howe: We need bravery and have to carry a threat

Guardiola said his side “are ready to go into battle” against a tough opponent at St James’ Park, with Newcastle boss Eddie Howe insisting his side need to play with ambition and freedom against City in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.

“There’s a variety of things [we need to do], but we have to carry a threat” Howe said.

“We have to be an attacking force and brave with the ball as well.

“Forgetting their qualities as well, which is hard because they’re an amazing team, but just looking at us, we have to be that attacking force and not forgetting what we’re good at which is crucial.

“Everyone will be highly motivated for the match, the crowd will be really there for us if we can inspire them. And we need to make it as difficult as we can for our opponents and we need to be at our very best.

Man City’s remaining fixtures in 2024

Newcastle (A) – Premier League – Saturday September 28

Slovan Bratislava (A) – Champions League – Tuesday October 1

Fulham (H) – Premier League – Saturday October 5

Wolves (A) – Premier League – Sunday October 20, live on Sky Sports

Sparta Prague (H) – Champions League – Wednesday October 23

Southampton (H) – Premier League – Saturday October 26

Bournemouth (A) – Premier League – Saturday November 2

Sporting Lisbon (A) – Champions League – Tuesday November 5

Brighton (A) – Premier League – Saturday November 9, live on Sky Sports

Tottenham (H) – Premier League – Saturday November 23, live on Sky Sports

Feyenoord (H) – Champions League – Tuesday November 26

Liverpool (A) – Premier League – Sunday December 1, live on Sky Sports

Nottingham Forest (H) – Premier League – Wednesday December 4

Crystal Palace (A) – Premier League – Saturday December 7

Juventus (A) – Champions League – Wednesday December 11

Manchester United (H) – Premier League – Saturday December 14

Aston Villa (A) – Premier League – Saturday December 21

Everton (H) – Premier League – Thursday December 26

Leicester City (A) – Premier League – Sunday December 29