Patience with Rodri is a must for Man City and Pep Guardiola at the moment. Coming back from a serious injury like a broken ligament has never been an easy journey. The Spanish midfielder made a cautious comeback at the end of last season after many months out. Up to now, he is still trying to get used to the role that led his career to the 2024 Ballon d'Or award.
Pep Guardiola has repeatedly affirmed that Rodri cannot stand the intensity of playing 3 matches a week. Therefore, it was no surprise when he withdrew him after 60 minutes in the 2-2 draw at AS Monaco, after a complete break in the win over Burnley last weekend.
Man City are not concerned about Rodri's ability to regain his top form, but it is clear that the midfielder's body needs time to catch up with the feeling of the ball after a break due to injury. The urgent problem at the moment is that The Citizens are forced to arrange a successor to Rodri who is capable of playing in this important position.
Nico Gonzalez is not good enough to replace him
At Stade Louis II, Nico Gonzalez replaced Rodri but he left a very bad impression. The Spanish midfielder accidentally swung his foot on Eric Dier's face in the final minutes, causing Man City to suffer a penalty and end the match with a result of 2-2.
Having joined FC Porto for nearly £50 million, the 23-year-old midfielder has yet to create the belief that he can become a long-term option in the "number 6" role. Nico has made certain progress after the first stage of getting used to English football, but to carry the Man City midfield to compete in the Premier League and Champions League is still a distant story.
Mateo Kovacic and Tijjani Reijnders are temporary solutions but not sustainable
Mateo Kovacic has just returned from surgery but has only been on the bench in the last 2 matches. During Rodri's absence last season, the Croatian midfielder was often trusted by Guardiola as the anchor thanks to his rich experience and impact-rich playing style. However, at the age of 31, Kovacic is not a long-term solution.
Meanwhile, new signing Tijjani Reijnders are being tested in many different roles in Pep's formation. The Dutch star showed good technique, often pushing high and likes to shoot from a distance but lacked decisiveness in ball circulation when facing low defensive blocks. More importantly, Reijnders do not bring the sense of safety, courage and stability that Rodri has brought.
The difficult problem of naming the "replacement of Rodri"
Finding a backup version for Rodri has long been an impossible task. Kalvin Phillips was once expected but was quickly left out of the game, unable to adapt to the strict tactical requirements.
Pep Guardiola experienced a valuable lesson in Monaco in 2017 when Man City was eliminated in the round of 16. That defeat forced him to strongly reform his squad, recruiting a series of key players such as Bernardo Silva and Ederson. Now, Man City does not need a big revolution but still need precise pieces to maintain dominance. The position of Rodri's successor is the top priority.
Home and away UK candidates
If you look within the Premier League, Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest) or Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) are potential young faces. They are of the right age, have good technical qualities and are fighting spirit enough to compete, even replace Rodri in the future.
Man City's scouting room is also expanding the search area globally. The problem is that no one can possess a perfect and comprehensive skill set like Rodri, but that does not mean the search stops. Phillips' failure, Kovacic and Nico's limitations are a clear warning: Pep and Man City cannot let history repeat itself.
