On September 22nd, 2024, Manchester City and Arsenal went head to head in an intense match that dramatically ended with a late equalizer by City defender, John Stones. However, City star Rodri, known for his important central defensive midfielder role, was severely injured during the game causing him to be walked off the pitch and subbed out. A day after the game Manchester City told numerous reporters that Rodri’s injuries would cause him to be out for the remainder of the season.
According to Rob Dawson from ESPN, Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, said, “Surgery this morning, ACL. Next season he will be here. This season is over. Unfortunately we got the worst [news] but these things happen. We will be there to support him in his recovery step-by-step” (Sep, 17th, 2024). Guardiola continued to say that, “What he gives us, we don’t have a similar player.”
According to David Clayton from Manchester City’s website, “All the injuries we did not want it, but football happens.”
“Rodri will be out for a period, not just eight, nine months.”
“As a club we have magnificent players, we will find a solution and it is what it is.”
The next game on September 28th, 2024, versus Newcastle United ended in a draw as well. Joško Gvardiol scored the opening goal in the 35th minute but Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon scored the equalizer in the 58th minute by a penalty. City ended their two game drawing streak by defeating Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League match, scoring 4 goals against them. This win put them at number 4 in the Champions League table.
