In the past 14 months, Rodri has been largely out of action due to an ACL injury incurred in a match with Arsenal, accumulating only 588 minutes of play in the colors of Manchester City as a result of a series of setbacks, the last of which kept him out from Wednesday’s 4-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. While Pep Guardiola has stated that “he will not be out for a while,” the 29-year-old stands as crucial to the manager’s philosophy. Below, we assess the options …
Nico González
“The go-to alternative if Rodri cannot play is absolutely Nico. Nico is taking progress,” the City manager stated prior to Sunday’s 3-1 win versus Bournemouth. Standing 6ft 2in and aged 23 when brought in for £49.8m from Porto earlier this year, González is a near mirror image of Rodri. Actually, Guardiola labeled the ex- Barcelona player as a “Rodri in the making” in the past, yet in the match with Bournemouth there were instances when he was pressured and lost possession in midfield in a manner Rodri, at his peak, would not allow. That is little disgrace, nevertheless, in falling short of being in the same caliber as the Ballon d’Or winner.
Mateo Kovacic
The extended absence of City’s sole other deep-lying midfielder due to an ankle injury might prove to be a challenge for City in case González also collect an injury in Rodri’s absence. The midfielder has shone often for City since arriving at the club from Chelsea for £25m in June 2023 and has a CV that demonstrates he is a exceptional talent. His past employers include Dinamo Zagreb, Inter and Real Madrid. He possesses a plethora of accolades to his name, like one La Liga title, one Premier League title and four Champions League winner’s medals.
Rico Lewis
Lewis has made 103 games for City, roughly a 25% of which have come as a deep-lying playmaker. The local talent is proficient in the spatial awareness, technique, challenges and stamina the duty demands in a Pep’s side, yet the manager has highlighted Lewis’s 5ft 7in height as a limitation in that role. “It’s vital to have physicality, for clear reasons,” he said. “The need was reduced [needed] in Barcelona, Bayern Munich [Guardiola’s past clubs].” Turning 21 in the coming weeks, Lewis is young and should only continue to improve.
John Stones
“What he brings to the pitch is outstanding ability as a centre-back and possibly as a pivotal No 6.” That opinion there by Thomas Tuchel and it reflects Guardiola about the ‘English defender’. Out of Stones’s 408 professional club appearances, 27 were as a holding midfielder and he starred in that role when stepping up from defense to play next to Rodri in City’s 2023 Champions League final victory over Inter. “The 360 thing was the most difficult for me,” Stones has said about playing in the position. “It’s not innate – I believe I do more now, but that comes from understanding where to take possession and how to handle it in specific scenarios.”
The Dutch Newcomer
Reijnders joined City from Milan in the summer as a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne. As he put it himself at the summer’s Club World Cup: “The No 8 position is why they [City] brought me in. Now it’s up to me to fill the No 8 and do my best to demonstrate that I should play.” As Nico nursing a knock, the Dutch international was deployed as a defensive midfielder in the previous 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa and was pushed forward when the Spanish player came on shortly after the 60-minute mark, the incident providing a glimpse of where he fits in Guardiola’s plans, namely as a deputy.
Nunes
Of Brazilian origin Portugal player has only played nine matches as a deep-lying midfielder in his career and his only appearance in the position for City coming against Nottingham Forest in September 2023. He completed the 90 minutes and contributed an assist in a 2-0 win.
Kalvin Phillips
Manchester City’s overlooked player is only 29. He has operated as a holding midfielder on 164 times during his career and showed enough quality in the role to be capped by England. Yet, it is evident he is not trusted of Guardiola.
