Manchester City’s recent 2-2 draw with Arsenal was disappointing for several reasons. The first of those was the inability of Pep Guardiola’s side to break down their ten-man title rivals, despite having an extra-man advantage for the entirety of the second half. But the main one was a season-ending injury to perhaps their most important player.
Spanish holding midfielder Rodri suffered a devastating season-ending injury in that clash against the Gunners at the Etihad, resulting in the former Atlético Madrid man having an ACL and meniscus surgery. That will rule him out until next season at the very earliest, and now, the responsibility falls on other players to step up and fill the void in the centre of the park. The 28-year-old Balon d’Or contender plays a crucial role in City’s midfield and is arguably the club’s only disrupting midfield player.
Despite the recent injury, Bovada sports betting odds still make the Blues an even-money favourite to win the Premier League next term, a triumph that would be their fifth in a row if they are indeed able to get over the line. But if they are to do that, someone will have to step up to the plate and fill the hefty boots of the crocked Spaniard.
Matheus Nunes
Portuguese playmaker Matheus Nunes is now in his second season at the Etihad following his £55m move from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer. However, in his maiden campaign in the North-West, the former Sporting Lisbon man could only manage a bit-part role. Last term he only managed 15 starts in all competitions, not once finding the scoresheet but providing five assists for his teammates.
Now, with a spot in the midfield there for the taking, the 26-year-old will be the one aiming to nail down his place as a cornerstone of Guardiola’s side. Nunes’ game is more based around attacking, rather than Rodri’s more defensive role. However, it is the Portugal international that gets the nod, he may have to play in a more disciplined fashion, or a teammate may well have to fill in in deeper positions, allowing Nunes the freedom to push forward.
His strengths lie in his agility and creativity, allowing him to manoeuvre through tight spaces and create opportunities for his teammates. He can break lines with progressive dribbles and his vision for incisive passes makes him a valuable asset in the midfield, but he may well have to work on his defensive capabilities if he is to get the nod.
İlkay Gündoğan
İlkay Gündoğan’s experience and versatility make him an ideal candidate to lead the midfield in Rodri’s absence. The veteran midfielder recently returned to the club after a year away with Barcelona, and the free transfer is looking like a masterstroke from Guardiola, especially considering Rodri’s injury. The club’s former captain is renowned for his intelligent play and ability to score crucial goals, while His knack for finding space and timing his runs into the box can add a different dimension to City’s attacking play.
Gündoğan’s leadership qualities will be vital during this period. He can guide younger players like the aforementioned Nunes, leveraging his experience to stabilize the midfield. Nonetheless, the German international will need to maintain his fitness levels, as his history of injuries could affect his availability. He does play a deeper role than his Portuguese teammate, but he still isn’t the deep-lying anchorman that Rodri is, and he too will have to be disciplined in the centre of the park to ensure that his side isn’t wide open on the counter-attack.
Mateo Kovacic
Mateo Kovačić is the obvious choice to replace Rodri’s defensive outfit. While the Croatian is more of a lung-busting box-to-box type of midfielder – with plenty of technical ability to boot – he isn’t scared of a tackle and his dynamic presence in midfield is something that has added a different dimension to the Blues. Guardiola snapped Chelsea’s collective hand off when the 30-year-old was available for a cut price of £25m last summer, and he has since gone on to become a first-team mainstay at the Etihad.
Known for his ball-carrying abilities, the former Real Madrid man can drive his team forward, transitioning play quickly from defence to attack. His high work rate and ability to cover large areas of the pitch make him an invaluable player in Pep Guardiola’s system. However, now his task is to remain disciplined and focus more on the defensive side of the game due to the giant void left in Rodri’s absence.
Whether he can do that or not, remains to be seen, but it will surely be a task the Croatian is up to. His ability to maintain possession and power his side up the pitch is unrivalled, but the focus now needs to be on breaking up opposition attacks. If he doesn’t Gündoğan’s lack of pace will be exposed and the Blues will be wide open on the counterattack. The former Dinamo Zagreb youngster needs to ensure that he is switched on at all times and is always covering for his teammates, otherwise, City’s title challenge could go up in smoke.