Rodri’s Injury and City’s Recent Struggles in Premier League

omidbasir- In September 2024, Rodri sustained a severe ACL injury that ruled him out of Manchester City’s Premier League title defense at the Etihad Stadium, a championship ultimately relinquished to Liverpool. Additional minor injuries occurred during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, further complicating his return to form.

Manchester City has been conscious of the need to manage Rodri’s recovery carefully, with hopes that he could regain his peak performance. However, another setback occurred last month when he had to exit the match against Brentford within the first 20 minutes due to a recurring knee issue.

Rodri’s absence has notably impacted the team’s performance. Following his injury last season, City experienced a decline in form and momentum, nearly falling out of the Premier League title race by early 2025. Although City started the current season strongly, their performances have been erratic due to Rodri’s limited appearances.

As Manchester City prepares for their Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, manager Pep Guardiola provided an update on Rodri’s condition, stating: “Everybody is fit except Kova and Rodri. Not long for Rodri. Not sure, but not long. We will wait a little more to ensure he is completely fine.”

After a series of four consecutive victories across all competitions, City was back in the title race, trailing Arsenal by only four points. However, they suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat against Newcastle United, which resulted in a drop to third place in the Premier League, following wins from Chelsea and Arsenal.

In the aftermath of the loss, Guardiola reflected on the match with BBC Radio 5 Live, stating, “It was a tight and entertaining game. Both teams had chances, but they scored one more goal. Erling [Haaland] had two or three opportunities, as he always does because he is the best. We need to move forward. In the second half, we began well, finding players in advantageous positions, but after scoring, they quickly equalized, making it more challenging.”

Guardiola displayed visible frustration following the defeat, engaging in a heated discussion with Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimarães, and even clashing with a cameraman. Addressing the situation later, he remarked, “No questions, everything is fine. I praised Bruno’s performance, but that conversation is private. I apologize for my earlier outburst; I felt embarrassed and ashamed. I am not perfect, and I make mistakes. My priority is always to defend my team and my club.”