Man City star gets ‘better and better’ as Guardiola gets ‘good news’ in loss
Man City’s ongoing struggles are making Rodri get “better and better” in his absence, Joe Cole has claimed after their latest loss.
Meanwhile, Don Hutchison has suggested that manager Pep Guardiola has finally been given a boost by the return of Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden to the matchday squad to lighten the injury crisis.
A 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday (11 December) means the Premier League champions have won just one of their last ten games in all competitions.
The Ballon d’Or winner has not featured at all in that run for Man City after picking up a season-ending injury against Arsenal back in September.
Cole has now suggested that his side’s problems while he has been out have highlighted just how good Rodri is.
Speaking after the game on TNT Sports Goals Show Extra (11 December, 10:10pm) about the troubles hanging over Guardiola’s side, the former England international said: “I tell you who’s getting better and better as the season goes on, Rodri. It just looks like he’s being missed so much.”
Having missed the last five and two games respectively through injury, Kovacic and Foden were back in the squad as unused substitutes against Juventus, which Hutchison believes is one positive for Man City.
The former Liverpool and Everton midfielder added: “The only good news, the only good news for Man City, that Kovacic was on the bench, Phil Foden was on the bench tonight. Something’s got to change. We’ve played the game and doubt is the worst thing you can have.”
Rodri importance to Man City proven in his absence
Football Insider Opinion
While he may not be playing right now, we are arguably still seeing just how good Rodri is over the past few months.
With the Spaniard out of action, the Premier League champions are being overrun in midfield in a way that was rarely seen when he was fit and available.
Given the success Man City previously enjoyed, that proves just how influential Rodri is for them, and how good he is when you consider quality players such as Ilkay Gundogan have struggled in his role.
That perhaps makes it clear that the club will simply have to sign a replacement for the Ballon d’Or winner in January, if they are to have a more productive second-half of the season.
In the meantime, they will hope that the return to fitness of Kovacic will now provide them with some more solidity in the centre of the park, even if it doesn’t fully make up for their star man’s absence.
Foden has had a tough season of his own this season, but is another who has the ability to get Man City back on track and they will hope he too returns from his injury refreshed and able to do that.
In other news, Pep Guardiola left one pundit baffled with his recent Jack Grealish decision against Juventus.
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