JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 22: Rodri of Manchester City is fouled by Alexsander of Fluminense … [+] during the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 Final between Manchester City and Fluminense at King Abdullah Sports City on December 22, 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
FIFA via Getty Images
Manchester City captain Kyle Walker might have been lifting the FIFA Club World Cup aloft to joyous celebrations but amidst the glory was concern; was influential midfielder Rodri limping?
As the clock ticked down on a routine against Brazillian side Fluminense the Spaniard had been cleared out by a lunging tackle from opponent Alexsander.
The scissor action of the midfielder’s legs as he collided with the Spaniard looked to have inflicted some serious damage, Rodri leaped up grasping his leg and was stricken on the turf afterward.
We never saw a true test of whether there had been serious damage to the midfielder because, moments after he remerged limping from the touchline, City scored a third and he was replaced as a precaution.
When it came time for handing out the honors, however, Rodri was the first to the stage. He collected a Player of the Tournament gong to add to his UEFA
EFA
Player of the Season award from a couple of months back.
The accolades underlined a fact already well-established: Rodri is a hugely important player for City.
Some pundits such as former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand go even further suggesting he’s the man on whom it all relies.
“Yeah, without him, they lose”, he said on the YouTube show FIVE
IVE
. “I said last season, he’s the most important player in any team in the league. Last season. He’s the only player who is irreplaceable in that team.
“Pep Guardiola can have all the talent in the world, but Rodri is absolutely irreplaceable,” agreed Paul Merson recently.
“He’s like the diesel or the petrol in the car – you can have the best cars in the world, but it won’t function unless there’s fuel.”
Such statements are given weight by this season’s stats. Manchester City has dropped points in every game Rodri has missed, including defeats against Wolves, Arsenal and Aston Villa.
While the ineffectiveness of Kalvin Phillips to cover for the Spaniard has received plenty of attention, a significant point missed is that City let manager Pep Guardiola’s trusted deputy for Rodri’s defensive midfield role leave in the summer for nothing.
Underappreciated Gundogan
BARCELONA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 20: Ilkay Gundogan of FC Barcelona looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports … [+] match between FC Barcelona and UD Almeria at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on December 20, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Cristian Trujillo/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Getty Images
When Ilkay Gundogan left Manchester City for Barcelona in the summer his attacking prowess and influential leadership were heralded.
Having captained the team to an unprecedented Treble, fans and pundits alike recalled his title-winning brace against Aston Villa or the two goals that felled Manchester United in last season’s FA Cup final.
But the German’s brilliance went well beyond that, as adept as he was going forward, Gundogan was equally astute at the back.
Take last season’s 6-3 win over Manchester United, delivered with Gundogan in Rodri’s role or the 2-1 home win against Leeds United-where he also scored a brace.
Before Rodri joined City, Gundogan would also deputize for the influential Fernadinho, who he’d go on to replace as club captain.
Unlike both of those players, the German is not especially known for his physical presence, his commanding displays were based on the type of measured passing that Pep Guardiola cherishes.
A fact that certainly didn’t get past the coach himself
“He is a guy who plays close to the box and has an incredible sense of the goal.” Guardiola gushed last season,
“But he can play holding midfield defensively no problem. He proved that years ago when Fernandinho was injured. He is a guy who handles the pressure really, really well.”
“He doesn’t talk much [as a captain] but when he talks, everyone listens. This is the power of a leader. He shows leadership in every training session. Arriving on time, living the job 24 hours a day. He plays like he’s playing now.”
Although Gundogan is now 33 you have to question why on earth City didn’t offer him the contract he was after.
He might have had a bad record with injuries earlier in his career, but the midfielder was never a player who relied on pace or physicality. If it was a risk surely the benefits outweighed the potential pitfalls.
Considering Fernandinho was still playing a substantial role for City in his mid-30s it’s likely Gundogan could do the same.
An indication of the level he still possesses can be found in his post-Citizens destination. The German has gone on to play a key role at Barcelona having been wanted by title challengers Arsenal.
Were his talent diminishing these are not clubs who would have sought his services.
Perhaps it is fitting he should end up at Barcelona under Xavi as this is one of the few players against which he can adequately be appraised.
Maybe the Spanish legend saw a kindred spirit when he pushed for his signing.
“There’s almost no one you can compare to Xavi in terms of legacy and impact in football, but in terms of who would be closest to a ‘Xavi-esque’ player, there are not many better names than Gundogan,” a senior City source told The Athletic.
The question is: Why on earth did they let him go?
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