Rodri's Injury and Impact on Manchester City's Season
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has missed the last three games due to a groin injury.
Manchester City's 2024-25 season, which ended without any trophies, was significantly affected by injuries to key first-team players, with Rodri being the most crucial among them.
The Spain captain suffered a serious knee injury that sidelined him for the majority of the campaign. Under Pep Guardiola, City experienced an unprecedented outcome by finishing the season without any silverware for the first time in eight years.
Rodri was awarded the Ballon d'Or in 2024, confirming his status as the world's best player and underscoring his vital role for Guardiola and Manchester City.
Although Rodri has returned to fitness and appeared in 35 matches for club and country this season, he has also spent additional time out due to a hamstring injury and currently a groin problem.
Guardiola stated that Rodri's fitness would be evaluated before deciding if he could play against Brentford on Saturday (kick-off 17:30 BST).
"We have survived without him for many, many months," Guardiola said. "He still doesn't feel completely comfortable. He will be ready when he is fit - we will see on Friday afternoon or on Saturday."
Everton Result Leaves City Chasing
Rodri played in the Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal, a match Guardiola described in March as evidence that the 29-year-old was improving "step by step."
He was instrumental in the 2-1 win against Arsenal that strengthened City's position in the title race but had to leave the field with a groin injury late in that April match.
Following this, Rodri missed narrow wins over Burnley in the Premier League and Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final, as well as Monday's dramatic 3-3 draw at Everton.
In that Everton game, City lost their lead and title race advantage by conceding three goals within 13 minutes in the second half before salvaging a last-minute draw with a remarkable strike from Jeremy Doku.
The City's defense was repeatedly breached, and the midfield offered limited protection to the backline.
The intense atmosphere at Hill Dickinson Stadium demanded calmness and composure to control the game.
Despite the chaotic match in Merseyside, which leaves City five points behind league leaders Arsenal with a game in hand, Guardiola does not believe Rodri's absence influenced the outcome.
Guardiola added: "It doesn't depend on him. We gave the goals away but not because Rodri was not there."
Has the Impact of Rodri's Absence Been Overstated?
Throughout Rodri's highly successful tenure at Manchester City, it is clear that Pep Guardiola's team performs better with him on the pitch than without him.
This perspective is supported by data. Since his debut in August 2019, City have recorded a higher win percentage, scored more goals, conceded fewer goals, and maintained greater possession in Premier League matches when Rodri plays compared to when he is absent.
Most of Rodri's absences have occurred in the past two seasons. During City's unprecedented run of four consecutive league titles, Rodri missed only seven matchday squads, three of which were due to suspension.
At the start of the 2024-25 season, an ACL tear sustained five weeks before winning the Ballon d'Or caused him to miss over seven months of action, during which Liverpool secured the league title.
This season has been disrupted by a hamstring injury, but encouragingly for City supporters, the statistics indicate that Guardiola's squad is adapting to playing without the 29-year-old.
Of the 11 matches Rodri missed between late September and New Year's Day, City won nine.
Rodri has made 195 league appearances over six seasons at the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola described him as "the best midfield player in the world by far" a few years ago.
There is no question that Rodri's physicality and possession intelligence are vital to City's success, but the significance of his absence this season may have been exaggerated.
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