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There are many Manchester City players who have excelled in their recent career, from Phil Foden to Ilkay Gundogan to Ruben Dias.
One player, crucial to the 15-game winning streak, is Rodri, a player who has quietly grown into a solid and consistent player, doing the basics in a crucial position to allow others to prosper.
So it was a concern to see Rodri limping at Swansea on Wednesday after an unnecessary challenge from behind on his ankle. The image of the Spaniard struggling to walk through the Liberty Stadium tunnel on his way to the City dressing room will not have improved the spirits of Pep Guardiola, who had no longer been able to pick Fernandinho in South Wales.
After the cup victory, Guardiola said that he had not spoken to the doctor, so he expected good news about Rodri. He was photographed in training on Thursday, but there will be a more detailed update on his condition on Friday. As for Fernandinho, he had picked up some “inconveniences” in training, so he was not considered suitable for traveling.
If Rodri needs more time to recover from his blow and Fernandinho does not recover in time, there is a possibility that City will be left without a defensive midfielder for a visit to Tottenham this weekend. Even if one or both are fine, the scare in Swansea shows that Guardiola will need a plan B in his most important position.
Usually Ilkay Gundogan would be the natural replacement in a position that protects the defense and unites the five in the back with the five in front. Rodri and Fernandinho’s role in City’s defensive strength this season has not received as much credit as it should.
However, Gundogan has reinvented himself in recent weeks in a more advanced role, scoring nine goals in his last 11 Premier League outings. Without Kevin De Bruyne, and with Guardiola reluctant to use Phil Foden in a central role, City would do well with Gundogan at the top of midfield rather than at the base.
Additionally, Bernardo Silva has appeared in more and more defensive positions this season as he has forged an effective partnership with Gundogan. Bernardo, however, is not a defensive midfielder and will not be asked to reproduce Rodri’s influence against Spurs.
So maybe Guardiola could go for a wild card option if Rodri and Fernandinho can’t.
Much has been said about the rebirth of Joao Cancelo as an attacking midfielder from the side position. It has been an effective tactic, and Cancelo was even chosen as the designated midfielder in a recent game. However, could she play the role of Rodri without Rodri by her side? Probably not, as Cancelo’s form is based on his contributions to the attack.
Perhaps it is time to play Aleks Zinchenko in his favorite position? He was given a rare outing in defensive midfield when City were four goals up at West Brom, and he has recently shown consistency as a left back. It would be a risk, but no more than any other option.
Claudio Gomes was the man who replaced Rodri at Swansea, while Tommy Doyle had another outing in midfield. However, asking any of the players to take on a dangerous Spurs team again might be too much. Stopping the careers of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son wouldn’t be fair to them.
A change in formation could be the answer, perhaps to three at the rear and playing Cancelo and Zinchenko as full-backs entering Marshall’s defensive midfield. That would require a back three, which could be a non-starter with Ruben Dias also dubious.
Whatever happens, this will be another real test of City’s versatility during his current career. They’ve managed with no designated strikers or left wingers, so this is just another challenge to overcome. If there is any team in the Premier League equipped to reorganize and deal with another loss of a player in a key position, this is it.
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