Pep Guardiola is experiencing an irreversible reliance on Rodri.

Pep Guardiola has added numerous phrases to the vocabulary of football, but one in particular he now regrets. His well-known reference to Tottenham as “the Harry Kane team” was meant as a praise, but Guardiola himself admits it was inaccurate even before a Kane-less Spurs team managed to score three goals against his team at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

However, it also presents the potential for his team to be labeled using the same strategy. While Erling Haaland may have achieved an impressive 52 goals in the previous season, there are occasions when Manchester City is referred to as “the Rodri team”. Even treble winners can be deemed a team reliant on one player, as they drastically change without his presence. This was evident in their recent 1-0 loss to Aston Villa, which marked the fourth game that Rodri missed due to suspension. In all four instances, City was defeated.

They are still struggling to overcome their reliance on Rodri. They only managed to take two shots at Villa Park, the lowest number ever attempted by a team led by Guardiola in a league game. While a defensive midfielder may not seem crucial in the attack, City have only scored one goal in the four games without Rodri. This shows how important he is to the team’s overall performance.

Guardiola is not the only one who believes that Rodri is possibly the best player in his position in the world. These players, by nature, are irreplaceable. Instead of trying to replace him, his manager used central defenders to fill in the midfield position. Guardiola stated, “He’s important, but today we tried with Manu and John,” referring to Manuel Akanji and John Stones. At times, they looked like traditional wing-halves, but it also gave City a solid back five. The Barnsley Beckenbauer’s return included a Cruyff turn in the Villa box, although he missed the ball completely. This was not the only instance where City lacked their usual composure. Typically, their dominance comes from their midfield, but this was not the case today. Guardiola admitted, “We have to accept it when a team is better and acknowledge it.”

He has the ability to solve problems, but not in this case. “It’s my responsibility to find a solution when Rodri isn’t available,” he stated. However, he wasn’t able to do so. It would have been helpful to have Douglas Luiz, a midfielder who was previously owned by City but later loaned out and sold without activating their buyback clause. Instead, Luiz was exceptional for Villa. As expected, Guardiola chose not to use Kalvin Phillips, solidifying his position as last in line for midfield spots. In the second half, the £80 million pair of summer signings, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes, were brought on. Kovacic had a strong start at City before falling out of favor, while Nunes has had little impact. At various points in the game, seven players – Rico Lewis, Julian Alvarez, Akanji, Stones, Bernardo Silva, Nunes, and Kovacic – played in the center for City, but it seemed as though their midfield had disappeared.

This was the least typical move by Guardiola. He is known for gathering midfielders and desiring a team composed entirely of them. He has even used them as center-backs, full-backs, false nines, and makeshift wingers. However, at Villa Park, his starting duo in front of the center-backs consisted of a young full-back and a converted striker. They were nowhere near the level of Xavi and Iniesta.

Guardiola’s first two teams to win the Champions League included his proteges. After six months, he did not have his third championship-winning midfield in Birmingham due to injuries. Despite this, the talented Kevin De Bruyne has the ability to create opportunities, use his individual skills to make up for team weaknesses, and take control of a game. It is no longer surprising to say that City struggled without Ilkay Gundogan, but in various games, his absence was felt in different ways. The captain was not only a leader, but also adaptable.

Rodri has been crucial in maintaining control of the midfield in the absence of other players. According to Guardiola, without Rodri, they would not have been able to defeat Liverpool or Spurs. However, with Kovacic and Nunes seemingly not living up to their high price tag, De Bruyne still out for another month, and the team displaying unusual vulnerability, the responsibility falls on two holding midfielders to revive City’s chances at the title: Rodri and Guardiola himself.

Guardiola stated that it is crucial to alter the circumstances as soon as possible. He is considering various options, such as changing tactics, personnel, or the overall atmosphere, in search of a solution. He acknowledged the need to rest, contemplate, and analyze previous games in order to determine the best course of action. It is his responsibility as a manager to find a way to overcome the current situation, as in the past, his team has always managed to find a way to play and achieve results, even in difficult times. However, with a depleted midfield, Guardiola faced a rare challenge as his team struggled.

Source: independent.co.uk