Rodri Could Miss the Remainder of the Season After Suffering a Serious Knee Injury vs Arsenal

Spain and Manchester City midfield lynchpin Rodri is set to be ruled out for a significant amount of time, with some reports even stating that the 28-year-old's season could be over.

Rodri went down clutching his right knee after making a front-post dart during a City corner routine. However, what followed was a City fan’s worst nightmare. After receiving treatment on the field, Rodri was withdrawn from the match in the 21st minute, with Matteo Kovacic coming on to replace the Spaniard. While Rodri walked the field, reports after the match suggested that Pep Guardiola will miss his midfield general for a long period. And that’s how it has turned out. 

Tests have revealed that Rodri has suffered a very serious knee ligament injury. But further examinations and tests will take place in Spain to determine the severity of his injury and timeline for his recovery. According to reliable Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Rodri arrived in Barcelona “to meet dr. Cugat for further tests after his serious knee injury.” Having said that, many people within the City organization believe that Rodri’s season is over. This is sobering news for everyone concerned with Manchester City because Rodri’s injury could have a serious impact on this season’s title race. 

Without Rodri, the Cityzens have struggled to pick up wins on a consistent basis. Remarkably, the last time Rodri was on the losing side for City was back in February 2023 against Tottenham. Additionally, City suffered three defeats last season, but the Spanish midfielder wasn’t included in the squad for any of those games. If Pep Guardiola doesn’t find a solution to this problem, then a chance to clinch their fifth consecutive Premier League title could quickly slip away.  

Rodri’s injury could have the same impact as the injury Virgil Van Dijk suffered in 2020-21 season. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool struggled to deal with the absence of their defensive colossus, as the then reigning Prem champions Liverpool barely secured a Champions League spot. Although Pep Guardiola can call on Matteo Kovacic to replace Rodri in his midfield pivot, it still remains to be seen whether the Croatian is good enough to play that role. Kovacic played a key part in City's equalizer against Arsenal, but to ease the growing concerns of City fans, he will need to consistently deliver stellar performances. The pressure is on, and the jury’s still out on whether he can be the steady presence City needs in the absence of Rodri.  

Also Read: 3 Things We Learnt From Sunday’s Enthralling Clash Between Manchester City and Arsenal