Before Wednesday’s Premier League game against Aston Villa, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola stated that if his club won the treble for the second consecutive season, he will retire from soccer. However, following the 1-0 setback, the former Barcelona coach stated that his team was “struggling” at the time, with only one victory in five matches. The loss at Villa Park was their first of the season, but the fact that it happened without Rodri just adds to the growing opinion that he has emerged as their most important player.
The Spaniard was suspended for the midweek match after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season in City’s previous game, a 3-3 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur, with the fit-again John Stones filling one of the two deeper-lying midfield spots. The Champions League holders, however, were the latest to succumb to Villa’s outstanding home run, with Leon Bailey’s second-half strike ensuring Unai Emery’s side a 14th consecutive win in front of their own fans.
Rodri is crucial to City’s success in 2023-24
Rodri has been suspended for three Premier League games this season, all of which City has lost (1-2 at Wolves, 0-1 at Arsenal, and 0-1 at Aston Villa). He was also absent from the squad for the Carabao Cup third round loss to Newcastle United at the end of September. Overall, their previous five defeats have been without the Spain international.
On the other hand, Guardiola’s players are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League games, winning nine and drawing three, and claiming maximum points in all four Champions League group stage fixtures. Rodri also appeared in the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup (can these constitute as competitive matches? ), with City winning the former and losing the latter in penalty shootouts.
The only game they’ve won without him this season is a Champions League group game at home against Swiss side Young Boys, in which he was an unused substitute.
Rodri has never lost a game for Manchester City
The 27-year-old is unbeaten in his previous 43 City appearances (33 victories and 10 draws), with his last defeat at club level coming all the way back in February in a 1-0 loss away to Tottenham.
While the reigning English champions appear to have missed Rodri more than ever in recent times, their overall record with and without him highlights his importance to the club.
Rodri and City’s overall Premier League win and loss ratios
Manchester City have won 110 and lost only 19 of the 150 Premier League games he has played since joining from Atlético Madrid in 2019 (a 73.3% win ratio and a 12.7% loss ratio). When he is absent due to injury or suspension, they have only nine victories and seven loses in 17 matches (a 52.9% win ratio and a 41.2% loss ratio).
Although Erling Haaland has garnered the majority of the attention in a light blue shirt, the data reveal Rodri is the glue that ties last season’s triple champions together.