Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Spanish midfielder Rodri will be out for the rest of the season. Guardiola gave the update today following a surgery on the 28-year-old’s anterior cruciate ligament.
Rodri sustained an injury to his knee during City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal. He subsequently made a trip to his home country Spain for further tests. Guardiola provided insight into his situation at his pre-match press conference on Friday. He said, “Surgery this morning, ACL. Next season he will be here. This season is over. Unfortunately, we got the worst news but these things happen. We will be there to support him in his recovery step-by-step.”
The midfielder’s presence was crucial for City last season as they lost all three Premier League games in which he was absent. While Guardiola conceded that Rodri is “irreplaceable,” he acknowledged his other options including Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan and John Stones. He said,
“We will have to do it as a team and find a way to play a lot of matches without an important player for us. Mateo Kovacic, and I will have a few more. Ilkay Gundogan can play that position. John Stones has too. We have alternatives.”
City will also miss Kevin De Bruyne when they face Newcastle in the Premier League this weekend. The Belgian is out with a thigh injury. City loaned backup midfielder Kalvin Philips out to Ipswich Town but may be looking to sign a replacement in the January transfer window.
