Manchester Metropolis narrowly prevented their first defeat of the 2024/25 season on Sunday afternoon, needing a stoppage-time John Stones equaliser to disclaim Arsenal what would have been a well-known victory on the Etihad Stadium.
The two-2 draw is sufficient to maintain Pep Guardiola’s males on the prime of the Premier League desk, however of extra concern to the Metropolis chief will probably be seeing midfielder Rodri limp off with an obvious knee damage after simply 21 minutes.
The Spanish midfielder – who lately warned in opposition to the risks of footballers being overplayed – is a vastly influential member of Guardiola’s squad, with the 28-year-old attaining the longest unbeaten streak in European soccer historical past earlier this 12 months, as he went 74 video games with out a loss earlier than the FA Cup closing.
Manchester Metropolis be taught extent of Rodri damage
Following the 2-2 stalemate on the Etihad, Guardiola stated the membership must wait to be taught the extent of Rodri’s damage after seeing him go down clutching his knee after tussling with Thomas Partey at a nook.
Now, based on ESPN , Metropolis have obtained the information they have been dreading, as they report that Rodri will miss the rest of the season after struggling an anterior cruciate ligament tear.
Manchester Metropolis midfielder Rodri (Picture credit score: Alamy)
This comes after exams this morning confirmed the harm, with the report including that whereas additional scans are due, all indicators factors in the direction of an ACL damage and he’ll doubtless endure surgical procedure to restore the damage in Barcelona.
“Rodri is a robust man,” Guardiola stated following the match. “He left the pitch on this motion as a result of he felt one thing.
“In any other case, Rodri stays there. Rodri is a vocal man, has presence… He’s the most effective holding midfielder on the planet, a possible Ballon d’Or winner, I’d find it irresistible. He’s necessary. Nevertheless it’s occurred.”
Mateo Kovacic changed Rodri from the bench and Guardiola will now doubtless need to name upon the Croatian to interchange Rodri in his beginning line-up as Metropolis goal to win an unprecedented fifth straight Premier League title.
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Guardiola was in a position to give a extra optimistic replace on Kevin De Bruyne following the Arsenal match, revealing his skipper may return subsequent weekend.
“I don’t suppose will probably be lengthy,” he stated. “I gained’t say Watford [on Tuesday], I don’t know for Newcastle however I believe it won’t be lengthy.”
In FourFourTwo’s opinion, it is a hammer blow for Manchester Metropolis’s hopes of retaining their Premier League title, given the Spaniard’s significance within the crew. There are few gamers in world soccer who dominate their place like Rodri does (with FourFourTwo score Rodri as the most effective in his place on the planet earlier this 12 months ), with Kovacic now having numerous weight on his shoulders because the membership look to compete on 4 fronts.
When may Rodri return?
Pep Guardiola might be lacking Rodri for some time (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
There’s clearly no timescale simply but for when Rodri may return, relying on the severity of the damage. The Spaniard might be taking a look at the remainder of the Premier League marketing campaign dominated out at the least, although.
One goal might be the Membership World Cup, although. The revamped competitors is about to launch subsequent summer time, with Metropolis one of many star sides invited.
Manchester Metropolis are prone to reveal the prognosis of the damage in time.
