Newcastle expose Man Metropolis's frailties with out Rodri, so what can Guardiola do?

NEWCASTLE — No Rodri, no social gathering. However loads of questions. Manchester City supervisor Pep Guardiola cannot escape the shadow of his injured midfielder — arguably the perfect on this planet in his place — and his exasperated response to being requested concerning the 28-year-old after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Newcastle United gave away simply how huge a loss he’s going to be to the Premier League champions.

“Guys, I do know you’re going to ask me on a regular basis,” Guardiola stated after the sport. “However [Rodri] isn’t there. “Kova [Mateo Kovacic], Bernardo [Silva]. Rico [Lewis] did properly, however I’ve to search out options. I’d love Rodri to be right here.”

This was the primary sport that Metropolis had performed since affirmation got here this week that Rodri, shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or, will miss the remainder of this season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his proper knee throughout final Sunday’s 2-2 draw towards Arsenal.

When Rodri left the sector towards Mikel Arteta’s aspect within the twentieth minute because of his damage, Metropolis had been 1-0 forward and comfy. Within the earlier 51 Premier League video games that Rodri had performed, relationship to February 2023, Metropolis hadn’t misplaced any of them.

However with Rodri off the pitch, Arsenal rapidly overturned their deficit to steer 2-1 and missed out on successful the sport solely by conceding an equaliser within the eighth minute of stoppage time.

At Newcastle, Metropolis as soon as once more took the lead, with defender Josko Gvardiol scoring within the thirty fifth minute following good work by Jack Grealish, however couldn’t maintain onto their benefit and Anthony Gordon‘s 58th-minute penalty finally earned Newcastle some extent and left Metropolis questioning when they’ll win once more with out Rodri.

Metropolis will, after all, discover a approach to win with out the previous Atlético Madrid participant. Let’s not overlook that Guardiola’s group received their first three league video games this season with out Rodri within the squad attributable to him being given an prolonged break following his exertions in serving to Spain to Euro 2024 glory in Germany.

However the actuality of his absence for the rest of the season has delivered each a range drawback and a psychological blow to the champions. Their report with and with out Rodri — they’ve did not win their final 5 video games (L4, D1) with out him and Kevin De Bruyne within the beginning XI — factors to his significance and the squad now know that they’re going to need to discover a approach to cope with out him. Even Guardiola, a training genius, admits he’s nonetheless looking for an answer.

Rodri is maybe much more necessary to Metropolis than prolific centre-forward Erling Haaland. Metropolis have so many attacking choices that they will often discover a approach to rating when Haaland is not on the scoresheet, however Arsenal had been capable of overrun Metropolis’s midfield within the interval between Rodri’s departure and Leandro Trossard‘s pink card on 45 minutes final week, and Newcastle additionally loved lengthy intervals of dominance in the midst of the pitch at St James’ Park.

Guardiola deployed a 4-1-2-3 formation with Kovacic within the Rodri position, and Lewis and Ilkay Gündogan providing an extra layer of safety in between Kovacic and the entrance three.

Kovacic is a top-class participant, a Champions League winner with Real Madrid and Chelsea, however he’s not Rodri. If Rodri is an A+ midfielder, Kovacic is perhaps B+, which continues to be not unhealthy. However all the pieces about Metropolis is their ranges of excellence and, regardless of Kovacic’s pedigree, he doesn’t give Metropolis the assuredness on the ball or the imaginative and prescient of Rodri.

As for Lewis, the 19-year-old continues to be studying the sport and never able to be one among Guardiola’s principal options. Gündogan has all of the pedigree and he has performed it earlier than, however the former Germany worldwide is 34 subsequent month and appears a shadow of his former self after returning to the Etihad this summer time following a season at Barcelona.

Gündogan was substituted early within the second-half after a poor efficiency wherein he appeared properly off the tempo. He would possibly enhance as soon as his health ranges get higher, however his age means that is perhaps an optimistic suggestion.

Tellingly, maybe, Guardiola referenced Bernardo Silva somewhat than Gündogan when speaking of his midfield choices towards Newcastle, however the Portugal worldwide is extra an attacking participant than a possible Rodri resolution. Defender John Stones is one other, however spent the sport on the substitutes’ bench, whereas the injured De Bruyne did not make the squad.

Like Gündogan, De Bruyne has all of the credentials to fill the Rodri void, however he’s additionally 33 and changing into affected by common damage issues.

So how does Guardiola change the irreplaceable?

At Newcastle, Metropolis had good intervals within the first half, however misplaced management of the midfield as the house aspect constructed up momentum within the second interval.

The midfield of Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães had extra vitality and tenacity than Metropolis’s, whereas the peak and power of Joelinton was an issue that Guardiola’s group could not take care of in Rodri’s absence.

Metropolis now have a snug run of league video games in October towards Fulham, Wolves, Southampton and Bournemouth, in order that they have the chance to show to the world, and themselves, that may cope with out their finest midfielder.

The chances are high that Metropolis will win all 4 of these video games and just do that, however there is no such thing as a doubt that they aren’t the identical power with out Rodri and the acid take a look at will come towards their title rivals.

Newcastle did not do this Saturday, however they uncovered Metropolis’s frailties and higher groups than Eddie Howe’s aspect might be way more ruthless.