How injured Rodri's absence may harm Man Metropolis's trophy quest

Manchester Metropolis midfielder Rodri could have additional exams on the knee damage that appears set to rule him out for an prolonged time period.

The 28-year-old travelled to Spain on Monday for preliminary exams on the damage sustained within the early phases of City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.

Reviews recommend it might be a prolonged absence and there are fears he may not return again this season.

Rodri is likely one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or subsequent month – given to the world’s greatest participant – and thought of by many to be Metropolis’s most influential participant.

The reigning English champions haven’t misplaced within the final 48 Premier League matches through which the Spaniard – additionally named participant of the match when his nation gained Euro 2024 – has began.

However Metropolis did lose 4 out of the 5 video games he missed final season, with Rodri tasting defeat simply as soon as in all competitions – not together with penalty shootouts such because the Champions League tie with Actual Madrid – the 2-1 FA Cup final upset by Manchester United.

Simply how expensive may his damage show to be for his or her home and European hopes?

Will sidelined Spaniard’s loss sway title end result?

After Rodri made his Manchester Metropolis debut within the 2019 Group Defend towards Liverpool, team-mate Kevin de Bruyne described him because the “good match” for the group.

He wasn’t flawed.

Since arriving from Atletico Madrid, the Spain midfielder’s affect has been extraordinary, with Metropolis having misplaced simply 11% of their video games with him within the aspect in comparison with 24% with out him.

Metropolis’s points-per-game common with Rodri within the aspect – albeit throughout all competitions – is 2.36. With out him, it’s simply 2.04.

Subsequently, if Rodri was to overlook the remainder of the Premier League season, utilizing these averages Metropolis would end on 80 factors, in comparison with a projected 91 factors with him enjoying each week.

In three out of the previous 4 seasons, 91 factors would have been sufficient to win the title.

Nevertheless, the final time a group gained the league with as few as 80 factors was Manchester United in 2010-11. Metropolis, with Roberto Mancini on the helm, completed third that 12 months.

What makes midfielder so vital to Metropolis?

What makes him so efficient?

Put merely, he wins the ball again from the opposition after which offers it to a different participant on his group – and he does so with metronomic accuracy.

Since his debut in a 5-0 win at West Ham, solely Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has gained possession extra usually. No one has gained the ball again extra usually within the center third of the pitch than Rodri has, and solely seven gamers throughout that point have made extra tackles.

His studying of the sport and combative nature has helped add an actual defensive metal to Metropolis, with the membership holding 73 clear sheets in his 260 appearances.

What actually units him aside, nevertheless, is how he makes use of the ball.

Since arriving within the Premier League, Rodri has efficiently accomplished practically 2,000 extra passes than some other participant – the Metropolis midfielder has made 13,699 in complete, with Brighton defender Lewis Dunk subsequent on the checklist with 11,952.

He has additionally accomplished extra passes in each the opposition’s half and within the last third, whereas his passing accuracy of 91.9% proves he seldom offers the ball away – though he is usually shifting it deep in opposition territory.

Kovacic, Gundogan or Lewis – who may change him?

BBC Sport’s chief soccer author Simon Stone:

Pep Guardiola has by no means made any secret of his perception Rodri is irreplaceable as a single midfield anchor in his Manchester Metropolis aspect.

Kalvin Phillips is the closest factor to a sitting midfielder within the Metropolis squad however Guardiola has lengthy since determined the previous Leeds man shouldn’t be ok and he’s at present on mortgage at Ipswich and unable to be recalled till January.

Meaning Guardiola is prone to tinker together with his formation and play with two holding midfielders.

Former Chelsea star Mateo Kovacic can fill that position however he’s not the one choice.

Centre-back John Stones has hardly ever performed as a lone defensive midfielder throughout his time at Etihad, however has been inverted into the deep-lying position at instances from central defence and right-back.

Ilkay Gundogan was utilized in that place on quite a few events earlier than he left for Barcelona in 2023. Bernardo Silva has additionally performed there, as has at present sidelined Kevin de Bruyne at instances.

After which there’s 19-year-old Rico Lewis, who somebody Guardiola stated solely final week may fill a variety of positions, such is his flexibility.

Shedding Rodri for any size of time could be a hammer blow for Metropolis, but when anybody can give you a plan to take care of it, Guardiola can.

The January switch window is just a few months away as effectively.

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton advised Radio 5 reside’s Monday Evening Membership: “I do not suppose anyone can fill that position like Rodri, however Kovacic is as ready a substitute on the market. We have seen up to now they’ll discover a approach of coping, they all the time do.”