September 25, (THEWILL) – Manchester City have confirmed that midfielder, Rodri, has sustained ligament damage to his right knee while featuring in their recent match against Arsenal. The full extent of the injury is still being assessed, but it is expected to sideline the player for a significant period.
The incident occurred in the first half of Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. Rodri was seen limping off the pitch after a collision with Thomas Partey. He has since been in Spain consulting specialists about the injury.
City manager, Pep Guardiola, stated that Rodri would be out “for a long time,” which could potentially impact the team’s pursuit of a fifth consecutive English Premier League title and their UEFA Champions League campaign. The 28-year-old Spanish international has been a key player for both club and country, playing a crucial role in City’s recent successes and Spain’s Euro 2024 victory.
Statistics show that City’s EPL win rate drops from 74.1% to 61.9% when Rodri is not in the team, underscoring his importance to the squad. Guardiola acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying: “Rodri is irreplaceable. When a team does not play with the best midfielder in the world for a long, long time of course it is a big blow but my duty is to find a solution.”
This setback follows a frustrating start to the season for Rodri, who had already missed City’s first four games due to a hamstring injury. The club now faces the task of maintaining their competitive edge without their midfield lynchpin for what could be an extended period.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
