Man Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola has reiterated his have to “discover a means” to exchange massively influential midfielder Rodri after his aspect survived a scare to beat Fulham 3-2 within the Premier League.
Grasp tactician Guardiola has recommended that playmaker Ilkay Gundogan and John Stones, Rico Lewis or Manuel Akanji – higher referred to as defenders throughout their careers – might fill the midfield anchor place left behind by Rodri, who is predicted to overlook the remainder of the season with a knee damage he sustained in opposition to Arsenal on September 22.
Mateo Kovacic performed in defensive midfield in opposition to the Cottagers, scoring in both half because the hosts recovered from falling behind to Andreas Pereira’s Twenty sixth-minute opener at Etihad Stadium.
“It was intense, it was tight” 🗣️
Pep Guardiola reacts to a nervy win away from house pic.twitter.com/rlaOALvLKT
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 5, 2024
Rodri: Metropolis want ‘resolution’
“We don’t have him now this season so now we have to discover a resolution,” Guardiola instructed Sky Sports activities after seeing the reigning champions transfer some extent behind Liverpool on the prime of the desk.
“Now we have Kova, Gundo, we are able to put John in that position, Rico, Manu. Now we have to discover a means. The presence of Rodri is necessary in any such recreation with the transitions, however we performed very well.”
Rodri stats
Earlier than Rodri’s damage, Metropolis had gained 74.1 per cent of their Premier League video games with him within the aspect and 61.9 per cent with out, which is a median of two.37 factors per recreation in comparison with 1.9 with out.
The Cityzens misplaced to Wolves, Arsenal and Aston Villa through the 4 video games Rodri missed final season, solely successful in opposition to Luton City, when he was rested in opposition to opponents who could be relegated.
3️⃣0️⃣ unbeaten within the @premierleague! 📈💪#ManCity pic.twitter.com/MtPVaE77Fw
— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) October 5, 2024
Since becoming a member of in 2019/20, Rodri has performed practically 2,000 extra passes than every other top-flight participant. Premier League statistics present he ranked second for possessions gained within the division final season and led the charts for touches, carries, passes into the ultimate third and progressive passes.
Metropolis’s house recreation in opposition to the Gunners was one other instance of an event on which they’ve dropped factors in Rodri’s absence.
Arsenal equalised 66 seconds after Rodri departed and went forward later within the first half. Regardless of having a person extra through the second half, Metropolis wanted a last-gasp Stones leveller to rescue some extent.
Kova on the double! ✌️
🩵 2-1 ⚪️ #ManCity pic.twitter.com/rLozp0uC0n
— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) October 5, 2024
Manchester Metropolis vs Fulham ‘intense’
Metropolis have since drawn 1-1 at Newcastle within the league and will have conceded extra in opposition to Fulham however for wasteful ending from Adama Traore.
“It was intense, it was tight,” acknowledged Guardiola. “Probabilities for them, probabilities for us. We began effectively and created many probabilities and it was harder once they went to 5 on the again. It was a threat to handle it however ultimately we did.”
Metropolis are subsequent in motion once they go to backside aspect Wolves on October 20 (2pm BST) earlier than internet hosting Sparta Praha within the Champions League three days later (8pm) and Southampton, who’re at present second-bottom, on October 26 (3pm).
