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'Dominant' Rodri's return boosts City
- Rodri played 30 minutes of Manchester City's opening Club World Cup fixture
- Midfielder working his way back to optimum fitness after ACL injury
- Guardiola, Ake and Bobb speak about his return and vast importance to the team
It is one of the most incredible, even implausible, statistics in modern football history. Between February 2023 and May 2024, Rodri played 74 matches for Manchester City and didn’t lose once.
During this time, City were a well-oiled machine, hoovering up the biggest titles in the game. If Rodri was unavailable, however, that machine was prone to malfunctioning. Of the five Premier League games City played without their midfield powerhouse in that 15-month period, they lost four.
When he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in their fifth match of the 2024/25 Premier League season, then, it represented a hammer blow. Rodri’s absence was stark. City suffered a series of uncharacteristic defeats, fell out of the domestic title race, and exited the UEFA Champions League at the play-off stage.
They gradually regained form towards the end of the Premier League campaign, winning seven and drawing three of their final ten matches to secure a third-place finish. That sequence ensured City headed to the FIFA Club World Cup™ with positive momentum, and the return to fitness of the man Pep Guardiola described as "irreplaceable" has given them even greater cause for optimism.
Rodri played 30 minutes of City’s win over Wydad AC on Wednesday – and displayed the tempo-setting passing quality and elite football intelligence for which he has become renowned.
Given his vast importance to the team, it is unsurprising City are taking no risks with the Spaniard. Guardiola confirmed he will not start against Al Ain FC on Sunday, but he is hopeful he can name the 29-year-old in his starting line-up in the not-too-distant future.
“We are going to protect him,” said the City boss. “It is almost nine months since the injury happened. It was a long, long injury. He is getting better. I know he wants to play, he wants to help, and he wants to be there. We want to protect him. We believe now the minutes he played in the last game and hopefully tomorrow (will help him). Hopefully one day soon he can play from the beginning.”
City winger Oscar Bobb also spent most of the 2024/25 on the sidelines after fracturing his leg in training last August. He explained how Rodri was a source of inspiration during his rehabilitation process.
“We spent a lot of days together, and just seeing how strong he was helped me a lot,” said the 21-year-old, who came on alongside Rodri as a 59th-minute substitute against Wydad. “It helped having an experienced player by my side. Even though he had an injury that was worse than mine, he stayed strong, and he was in every day trying to get back. He’s a leader. He’s great in every way. He’s helpful, welcoming and very professional.”
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Defender Nathan Ake also paid tribute to Rodri’s personality and presence.
“On the pitch, his actions speak for themselves,” said the Netherlands international. “He keeps us ticking, his physicality brings us a lot. It’s good for him to get minutes now. He’s been training for a while, so it’s great to see him back on the pitch. He’s dominant off the pitch as well, talking to a lot of players. He talks a lot. He’s a massive player for us.”
Rodri’s hopes of starting his first match since September 2024 will be boosted if City overcome Al Ain in Atlanta on Sunday. Victory for the Blues will guarantee their spot in the last 16, provided Wydad do not beat Juventus in Group G’s other fixture. Coach Guardiola set out City’s intent to go all the way at the groundbreaking new tournament.
“It is a privilege to be here,” he said. “In four years’ time, it (the Club World Cup) is going to happen again. And to be here in four years, you have to win big, big prizes. Once we are here, why shouldn’t we fight to stay longer, longer and longer.”
Guardiola also saluted the in-form Brazilian teams at the Club World Cup. Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Palmeiras are unbeaten and all lead their groups. The City boss revealed his admiration for the passion and colour their fans have provided in the USA.
“I love when you see Botafogo, Fluminense, and all the Brazilian teams… how they celebrate the goals and how they are together. The way they live every single action is what it is all about.”
