Guardiola confident Manchester City will still 'have a good season' without Rodri

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged his obligation to devise a strategy to manage the absence of key midfielder Rodri, who may be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a significant knee injury.

Rodri sustained the injury during City's 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, with concerns of a possible anterior cruciate ligament tear in his right knee.

"Rodri will be out for an extended period. While there are some assessments suggesting it may not be as long as anticipated, he is indeed injured, and we are currently awaiting definitive updates from him and the medical team to ascertain the exact nature of his injury and the necessary surgical intervention," Guardiola stated following City's 2-1 victory over Watford in the League Cup on Tuesday.

Guardiola recognized the impact of Rodri's absence as significant, yet he remains confident that a team that has achieved a record four consecutive Premier League titles can continue to perform competitively.

"We will have a successful season; I have great faith in my players. It is my responsibility to identify a solution," he remarked.

"Rodri is irreplaceable. The absence of the best midfielder in the world for an extended duration is undoubtedly a major setback, but it is my responsibility to ensure we maintain our competitive edge as we have for many years.

"When a player is irreplaceable, the team must step up, and that is what will occur."

Rodri has been considered a potential candidate for the Ballon d'Or this year, following his pivotal contributions to City's record fourth consecutive Premier League title and Spain's triumph at Euro 2024.

The former Atletico Madrid player has experienced defeat in only one of his last 84 matches for both club and country.

SportsLigue