Manchester City’s midfield maestro Rodri, who just last season was celebrated as a Ballon d’Or winner, finds himself at the center of mounting concerns for the reigning Premier League champions. After a promising return to action this fall, the Spanish international’s ongoing knee troubles have cast a shadow over City’s preparations for their crucial UEFA Champions League clash with AS Monaco.
Rodri’s journey back to the pitch has been anything but smooth. Having missed the Premier League opener, he managed to feature in four league games and City’s Champions League debut against Napoli. But just as the Citizens were hoping for a return to normalcy, Rodri’s name was conspicuously absent from the squad sheets for both the EFL Cup and the recent league encounter with Burnley. The omission, which raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike, was clarified by manager Pep Guardiola in a post-match press conference.
“Rodri, yesterday in training, he said, ‘I’m not able to play. I have a lot of pain in my knee, I cannot play, I cannot play’. And I said, ‘You cannot play? You don’t play. So, another one is going to play’. I don’t know yet, I don’t know,” Guardiola admitted, his tone tinged with concern. The revelation sent a ripple through the City fanbase, especially given the midfielder’s history with knee injuries.
The issue, as Guardiola later confirmed, is with the same right knee that Rodri injured during a Premier League match against Arsenal back in September 2024—a devastating blow that sidelined him for eight months with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus damage. That injury derailed City’s campaign, with the team’s midfield losing its usual bite and the club ultimately failing to retain the Premier League title.
Rodri’s absence last season was widely regarded as a turning point. According to AP, "The absence of Rodri for most of last season was key to City’s sharp decline and failure to retain the Premier League title." His return late in the 2024-25 campaign was met with optimism, but the midfielder struggled to recapture his Ballon d’Or-winning form. This season, City’s coaching staff had been cautiously optimistic after Rodri managed to play three games in an eight-day span in mid-September—against Manchester United, Napoli, and Arsenal. Yet, Guardiola noted that even during this run, the Spaniard "didn’t feel comfortable either in matches or in training."
City’s midfield puzzle became even more complicated after Rodri withdrew himself from contention following a training session on September 26, 2025. The very next day, he was left out of the matchday squad for the Premier League clash with Burnley—a fixture City won convincingly, 5-1, at the Etihad Stadium. In Rodri’s place, former Barcelona and Porto midfielder Nico González stepped into the holding role and delivered a composed performance, helping to steady the ship in the Spaniard’s absence.
“Yeah,” Guardiola responded bluntly when asked if the problem was with the same knee as before. The manager’s straightforward answer left little room for optimism, especially with the Champions League’s Matchday 2 looming large. City, who opened their European campaign with a 2-0 home victory over Napoli, are now preparing for a potentially tricky away fixture against AS Monaco on October 1, 2025.
AS Monaco, for their part, are licking their wounds after a humbling 4-1 defeat to Club Brugge in their own Champions League opener. The French side will be eager to bounce back in front of their home fans, and City’s midfield uncertainty adds another layer of intrigue to the upcoming contest. Unless Rodri shows significant improvement in training before Wednesday’s showdown, it’s expected that Nico González will retain his place at the base of Guardiola’s midfield.
Rodri’s situation is being closely monitored by City’s medical team. The midfielder’s own words—"I have a lot of pain in my knee, I cannot play"—underscore the seriousness of the issue. For a player whose game relies on positional intelligence, tactical awareness, and physical robustness, any lingering discomfort in the knee can be a major hindrance. The recurrence of pain in the same joint that suffered an ACL tear is particularly worrying, given the risk of aggravating the injury or facing a prolonged absence.
Guardiola’s pragmatic approach to squad management has been tested by Rodri’s ongoing struggles. The Catalan tactician has never been one to take unnecessary risks with player health, especially with a congested fixture list and City’s ambitions on multiple fronts. “If you cannot play, you cannot play. Another one is going to play,” Guardiola reiterated, signaling his intent to prioritize the player’s long-term well-being over short-term gains.
The ripple effects of Rodri’s absence extend beyond the pitch. His leadership, ability to dictate the tempo, and knack for breaking up opposition attacks have been central to City’s identity under Guardiola. Without him, the team must recalibrate, relying on the likes of González and other midfield options to fill the void. The upcoming match against Monaco will serve as a litmus test for City’s adaptability and squad depth.
For Rodri, the road ahead is uncertain. The hope within the club is that rest and targeted rehabilitation will allow him to return to full fitness without exacerbating the injury. However, with the memory of last season’s lengthy layoff still fresh, both player and club are treading carefully. The stakes couldn’t be higher, with City aiming to reclaim domestic glory and mount another deep run in Europe.
As City prepares to travel to the Stade Louis II, questions linger: Will Rodri recover in time to play a part in the Champions League showdown? Can González continue to deputize effectively in the holding role? And how will Guardiola’s side cope if their midfield anchor is sidelined for an extended period?
One thing’s for sure—the eyes of the football world will be fixed on Monaco this Wednesday. With Rodri’s status uncertain and City’s midfield in flux, the stage is set for another dramatic European night. For now, all Manchester City supporters can do is wait, hope, and trust in Guardiola’s ability to steer the team through this latest challenge.
As the Champions League group stage heats up, City’s resilience and tactical flexibility will be put to the test. Whether or not Rodri is fit to feature, the coming days could prove pivotal in shaping the trajectory of their season.
