Rodri suffered a probable knee injury during Manchester City’s Premier League match against Arsenal, inflicting a major setback to the team. The midfielder, who had recently recovered from a hamstring ailment, was taken off midway through the game after a challenge from Arsenal’s Thomas Partey, which appears to have resulted in a damaged anterior cruciate ligament.
The incident occurred at the Etihad Stadium when Rodri, who had been the recipient of an early shoulder challenge from Kai Havertz, collapsed again after contesting a corner with Partey. Mateo Kovacic took his place after he became unable to continue. Rodri made his first start of the season, having missing the previous two games due to a hamstring injury. The match concluded in a 2-2 draw.
Rodri’s importance on Pep Guardiola’s team has been apparent, and his potential long-term absence might have a huge impact on City’s chances for silverware this season. Following treatment, the Spanish midfielder walked off the pitch, raising questions about the severity of his injuries.
Guardiola’s Reaction
Pep Guardiola admitted that he would not have taken Rodri from the pitch if the midfielder had not claimed an injury during the match against Arsenal on Sunday. “I haven’t spoken to the doctor yet,” Guardiola said after the match. “Rodri’s difficult. If he left the pitch, it was because he felt something, else he would have stayed. He’s the best defensive midfielder in the world and a potential Ballon d’Or winner, which I hope he achieves,” Guardiola said.
He went on to say, “Rodri is crucial for us, but these situations happen. It happened early in the match, just like the previous one. Games against Arsenal are always intense, and we have to manage them, even when we’re not accustomed to it. Despite the challenges, we did a lot of things very well.
