Rodri Hernández Cascante’s long-term injury has marked a before and after in Manchester City’s season. When he was injured, on September 22 against Arsenal, the ‘sky blues’ were leaders of the Premier with 13 points, one more than Liverpool. Now, however, they are second, eight points behind the ‘Pool’. Eight that could be 11! if they lose this Sunday at Anfield.
The English club reports that the Spanish midfielder has a ligament injury in his right knee.
A ‘slump’ that is largely explained by the ‘Rodridependence’ that City has been developing. Since last season began, the ‘sky blues’ have won 74% of the games they have played with the Spaniard over the ‘green’ (39 out of 53). They have only lost one. On the other hand, without the former Atlético and Villarreal player, the win rate drops to 56% (14 out of 25). The number of goals scored per game also decreased (from 2.5 to 2.2) and, on the other hand, the number of goals conceded increased (from 0.9 to 1.3).
It seemed that City had managed to cushion the blow – they had six wins and a draw in their first seven games without Rodri – but nothing could be further from the truth. Since the Spaniard won the Ballon d’Or (October 29) a ‘damned coincidence’ has been perpetuated: the ‘cityzens’ have lost everything.
Rodri Hernández, after winning the Ballon d’Or: “I am a normal boy, with values, who studies…”
Five games, five defeats, the likes never seen since Guardiola made the jump to the bench in 2007: 2-1 against Tottenham (League Cup), 2-1 against Bournemouth (Premier), 4-1 against Sporting (Champions), 2-1 against Brighton (Premier) and 0-4, again, against Tottenham, this time in the Premier.
“It is difficult to play without four centre-backs, without a winger… and without Rodri for an entire season. Rodri is key in the defense-attack transitions and he is not there. Give me my players back and you will see,” Guardiola stressed before receiving Feyenoord.
It is difficult to play without four centre-backs, without a winger… and without the best player in the world, Rodri, for an entire season
Pep Guardiola
One facet, the defense, to which we must add his main task – the construction of the game – and his scoring explosion: he had just scored four goals and given seven assists in 2022-23[incluido el gol que dio al City la única Champions de su historia]and to score nine goals and distribute 14 assists in 2023-24.
Nuno Luz, MARCA journalist, was present at the Etihad to pay tribute to Rodri after winning the Ballon d’Or
The City coach does not hide, far from it, the ‘hole’ left by the loss of the Spanish international: “We miss him. He is the best in the world. Imagine, when we were at Barcelona, playing an entire season without Messi. “Do you think we would have won the treble? I don’t think so.”
We miss him. It’s the best in the world. Imagine, when we were at Barcelona, playing an entire season without Messi
Pep Guadiola
At City they are counting the days until his ‘return’ and, although it is still far away, Rodri, in Cope’s ‘El Partidazo’, opened a thread of hope: “I have in mind to play again this season. The seasons are getting longer and longer long and the Club World Cup ends on July 13. It is a challenge that I have set for myself. In the blue part of Manchester they are crossing their fingers that it will be like this.