JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 22: Rodri of Manchester City is fouled by Alexsander of Fluminense … [+] during a thrilling FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 Final between Manchester City and Fluminense at King Abdullah Sports City on December 22, 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
FIFA via Getty Images
Manchester City captain Kyle Walker might have been lifting the FIFA Club World Cup aloft to joyous celebrations but amidst the glory was concern; was influential midfielder Rodri limping?
As the clock ticked down on a thrilling match against Brazillian side Fluminense, the Spaniard had been cleared out by a lunging tackle from opponent Alexsander.
The scissor action of the midfielder’s legs as he collided with the Spaniard looked to have inflicted some serious damage, Rodri leaped up grasping his leg and was stretched out on the turf afterward.
We never saw a true test of whether there had been serious damage to the midfielder, because, moments after he emerged limping from the touchline, City scored a third and he was replaced as a precaution.
When it came time for handing out the honors, however, Rodri was the first to the stage. He collected a Player of the Tournament gong to add to his UEFA Player of the Season award from a couple of months back.
The accolades underlined a fact already well-established: Rodri is a huge player for City.
Some pundits such as former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand go even further suggesting he’s the man on whom it all relies.
“Yeah, without him, they lose,” he said on the YouTube show FIVE. “I said last season, he’s the most important player in any team in the league. He’s the only player who is irreplaceable in that team.
“Pep Guardiola can have all the talent in the world, but Rodri is absolutely irreplaceable,” agreed Paul Merson recently.
“He’s like the diesel or the petrol in the car – you can have the best cars in the world, but it won’t function unless there’s fuel.”
Such statements are given weight by this season’s stats. Manchester City has dropped points in every game Rodri has missed, including defeats against Wolves, Arsenal and Aston Villa.
While the ineffectiveness of Kalvin Phillips to cover for the Spaniard has received plenty of attention, a significant point missed is that City let manager Pep Guardiola’s trusted deputy for Rodri’s defensive midfield role leave in the summer for nothing.
When Ilkay Gundogan left Manchester City for Barcelona in the summer his attacking prowess and influential leadership were heralded.
