MANCHESTER: Manchester City midfielder Rodri will miss the rest of the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament, manager Pep Guar­diola confirmed on Friday in a big blow to his team’s quest for a fifth consecutive Premier League title.

Rodri underwent surgery for the injury earlier on Friday, Guardiola said. “Surgery this morning, ACL and some meniscus (cartilage), next season he will be here. This season is over,” Guardiola told reporters. “Unfortunately we got the worst but these things happen. We will be there to support him in his recovery step-by-step.”

The Spaniard injured his right knee during the team’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

Guardiola’s team top the table on 13 points ahead of Saturday’s clash at Newcastle United.

The injury is a cruel twist, coming days after the 28-year-old Rodri warned of strike action by players over their increasing workload.

Rodri is considered a favourite to win the Ballon d’Or after leading City to an unprecedented fourth straight Premier League before being named Euro 2024 player of the tournament as Spain clinched the title.

“What he gives us, we don’t have a similar player. But the others can all together replace what Rodri has given since his arrival to us. 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,” Guardiola added. “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. We are stronger with him and stronger with (Nathan) Ake and (Oscar) Bobb and Kevin (De Bruyne), but that is what it is,” Guardiola said, rattling off his list of injured players. “We don’t want it but it is football.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2024