Manchester City’s failure to win any trophies in the 2024-25 season was heavily influenced by injuries to key starters, with none more impactful than Rodri’s absence.
The Spain international suffered a serious knee injury that sidelined him for much of the campaign, leading to City’s first trophy-less season under Pep Guardiola in eight years. After claiming the 2024 Ballon d’Or, Rodri was widely recognized as the world’s top player, underlining his vital role for both Guardiola and the club.
Though he has returned to fitness and played 35 matches for club and country this season, Rodri has also been sidelined by hamstring issues and a groin problem. Guardiola confirmed on Thursday that Rodri had resumed partial training, but his participation in Saturday’s clash with Brentford (17:30 BST) depends on further assessment.
“We have managed without him for many, many months,” Guardiola said. “He still doesn’t feel completely comfortable. He’ll be ready when he’s fit — we’ll know more on Friday afternoon or Saturday.”
With an FA Cup final against Chelsea next Saturday and Premier League games against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa ahead, Guardiola hopes Rodri will be fully available for those matches.
Rodri played a key role in City’s League Cup final win over Arsenal, with Guardiola noting in March that the 29-year-old was improving “step by step.” He was instrumental in a 2-1 league victory over Arsenal that gave City an edge in the title race, but was forced off late in that April match with a groin issue.
He then missed narrow wins against Burnley in the league and Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final, but more notably, Monday’s chaotic 3-3 draw at Everton. City squandered their lead in that match, conceding three goals in 13 second-half minutes before Jeremy Doku’s dramatic equalizer. Their defense was repeatedly exposed, with the midfield offering little protection.
The intense atmosphere at Hill Dickinson Stadium needed a calm presence to control the game, yet despite the frantic result—which left City five points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand—Guardiola downplayed Rodri’s absence as a factor.
“It doesn’t depend on him,” Guardiola said. “We gave the goals away, but not because Rodri was not there.”
**Has the impact of Rodri’s absence been exaggerated?**
Throughout Rodri’s highly successful Manchester City career, one fact is clear: Guardiola’s team performs better with him on the pitch. Data supports this. Since his debut in August 2019, City have recorded a higher win percentage, scored more goals, conceded fewer, and maintained greater possession in Premier League matches when the Spaniard plays compared to when he is absent.
Most of those absences have occurred over the last two seasons. During City’s run of four consecutive league titles, Rodri missed only seven matchday squads—three of which were due to suspension.
At the start of the 2024-25 season, an ACL tear five weeks before his Ballon d’Or win sidelined him for over seven months, and Liverpool went on to win the league. This season has been hampered by a hamstring problem, but for City fans, the numbers suggest the squad is learning to cope without the 29-year-old.
Of the 11 games he missed between late Se
