**How Pep Guardiola Unintentionally Found the Perfect Replacement for Rodri at Man City**
Rodri likely had trouble sleeping before his Manchester City teammates returned for pre-season training. The night prior, he celebrated a significant achievement: winning the Euro 2024 trophy and being named the tournament’s best player. He marked this victory in Madrid with his Spain teammates, though it wasn’t without controversy, as he found himself caught up in an unexpected geopolitical issue. After those festivities, he sensibly took some much-needed time off following a long and demanding season.
That was six weeks ago, and since then, Rodri extended his break and subsequently faced some injury setbacks that kept him out of action for Manchester City. However, following the international break, the midfield star is back, providing a considerable boost for the team. But did Manchester City feel his absence during his time away?
Reflecting on last season, it’s evident how vital Rodri is to City’s success. The team played four matches without him due to suspension and lost all four. This statistic alone highlights his significance. Even in the five games where he was an unused substitute, City still managed to win, but his absence was palpable during critical moments. One of the most notable defeats last season occurred in the FA Cup final, where Rodri played, but it represented one of the few losses City suffered while he was on the field. To further illustrate his impact, he participated in an impressive 50 matches last season, and the FA Cup final defeat was the only loss City experienced with him in the lineup, aside from penalty shootouts.
Rodri’s role at the core of City’s midfield is irreplaceable, both in defense and in controlling the game’s rhythm. His return from injury is likely to help stabilize the team as they strive to uphold their dominance across competitions.
