Man City manager Pep Guardiola has reiterated his need to “find a way” to replace hugely influential midfielder Rodri after his side survived a scare to beat Fulham 3-2 in the Premier League.
Master tactician Guardiola has suggested that playmaker Ilkay Gundogan and John Stones, Rico Lewis or Manuel Akanji – better known as defenders during their careers – could fill the midfield anchor position left behind by Rodri, who is expected to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury he sustained against Arsenal on September 22.
Mateo Kovacic played in defensive midfield against the Cottagers, scoring in either half as the hosts recovered from falling behind to Andreas Pereira’s 26th-minute opener at Etihad Stadium.
“It was intense, it was tight” 🗣️
Pep Guardiola reacts to a nervy win away from home pic.twitter.com/rlaOALvLKT
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 5, 2024
Rodri: City need ‘solution’
“We don’t have him now this season so we have to find a solution,” Guardiola told Sky Sports after seeing the reigning champions move a point behind Liverpool at the top of the table.
“We have Kova, Gundo, we can put John in that role, Rico, Manu. We have to find a way. The presence of Rodri is important in this type of game with the transitions, but we played really well.”
Rodri stats
Before Rodri’s injury, City had won 74.1 per cent of their Premier League games with him in the side and 61.9 per cent without, which is an average of 2.37 points per game compared to 1.9 without.
The Cityzens lost to Wolves, Arsenal and Aston Villa during the four games Rodri missed last season, only winning against Luton Town, when he was rested against opponents who would be relegated.
3️⃣0️⃣ unbeaten in the @premierleague! 📈💪#ManCity pic.twitter.com/MtPVaE77Fw
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 5, 2024
Since joining in 2019/20, Rodri has played nearly 2,000 more passes than any other top-flight player. Premier League statistics show he ranked second for possessions won in the division last season and led the charts for touches, carries, passes into the final third and progressive passes.
City’s home game against the Gunners was another example of an occasion on which they have dropped points in Rodri’s absence.
Arsenal equalised 66 seconds after Rodri departed and went ahead later in the first half. Despite having a man more during the second half, City needed a last-gasp Stones leveller to rescue a point.
Kova at the double! ✌️
🩵 2-1 ⚪️ #ManCity pic.twitter.com/rLozp0uC0n
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 5, 2024
Manchester City vs Fulham ‘intense’
City have since drawn 1-1 at Newcastle in the league and could have conceded more against Fulham but for wasteful finishing from Adama Traore.
“It was intense, it was tight,” acknowledged Guardiola. “Chances for them, chances for us. We started well and created many chances and it was tougher when they went to five at the back. It was a risk to manage it but in the end we did.”
City are next in action when they visit bottom side Wolves on October 20 (2pm BST) before hosting Sparta Praha in the Champions League three days later (8pm) and Southampton, who are currently second-bottom, on October 26 (3pm).
