3 hours ago
5
Patience is required for Rodri, Manchester City’s metronomic midfielder. Returning from something as serious as a cruciate ligament injury was never going to be straightforward. He made a tentative comeback at the end of last season after months out and continues to readjust to a role the Ballon d’Or winner had made his own.
Pep Guardiola has been quite clear that Rodri cannot yet cope with the rigours of playing three games in a week and, as such, it was no surprise to see him withdraw the 29-year-old after an hour of the 2-2 draw in Monaco, having left him out entirely of the weekend win over Burnley. There are no concerns that Rodri will not get back to his best, but the mechanics of the body need to match up with the mind and that, understandably, is not instantaneous after such a major setback. What it also clear is that City need to evaluate their succession plan.
Nico González replaced his compatriot at the Stade Louis II and made headlines by introducing his shin pad to Eric Dier’s face in the dying moment of the game. That moment of poor decision-making cost his side victory and since joining from Porto for almost £50m, the 23-year-old has rarely given the impression of being a long-term replacement for Rodri. Admittedly, he has improved this season following a period of acclimatisation to life in England, but it remains doubtful that he can be a key defensive member of a team challenging for silverware in the Premier League and in Europe.
Mateo Kovacic has watched from the bench in the past two games after recovering from surgery. The Croatian was the preferred option in the No 6 role during Rodri’s absence, offering a combative alternative, aided by being more accustomed to the Premier League than González, but he too is not a long-term replacement, especially given he is 31-years-old. The second part of the midfield pairing is Tijjani Reijnders, who continues to evolve in the role Guardiola wants him to play. The Dutchman can often be found on the edge of the opposition box, eagerly wanting to shoot. He is clearly a technically gifted player but needs to use the ball quicker when City are facing low blocks, as they did in midweek. And in general, he is not a Rodri replacement.
Finding an understudy for Rodri has always been difficult because his list of personal and team accolades speak for themselves. Kalvin Phillips was quickly deemed unable to cope with the complexities and responsibility of a pivotal role, becoming an early victim of Rodri’s supreme competence.
It was in Monaco in 2017 that Guardiola learned how much needed to change at City, going on to overhaul the squad after exiting the Champions League to a side that contained Fabinho, Bernardo Silva and an 18-year-old Kylian Mbappé. After a sustained period of success, it is only tweaks that now need to be made, especially after heavy investment in recent windows.
Guardiola is rightly sensing a good season ahead for his team, although their performance in Monaco did not point to a return yet to their best form in Europe. City suffered from lapses in concentration against the Ligue 1 side, resulting in too much space for the opener and a late kick to the face. In general they are relying too heavily on the efficiency in front of goal that Erling Haaland provides, with the Norwegian’s two goals in midweek taking his tally for the season to an extraordinary 11 goals in eight appearances.
after newsletter promotion
That is something of a short-term concern; long-term there remains the glaring need to put together a successful succession plan for Rodri. If City were to look inside the Premier League for an alternative, Elliot Anderson at Nottingham Forest or Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton are at the right age and have the right attributes and attitude for the challenge of competing with the Spaniard and, potentially, replacing him.
The cogs will be whirring in City’s recruitment room, with those involved looking at various No 6s around the world. None will have the same skillset and ability of the current incumbent, but that does not mean that the search can stop. Phillips, Kovacic and González have been unable to compete with Rodri; the next in through the door simply cannot follow the same path.
