Rod-ds against Blues with yet another blow

AS Nicolas Otamendi proved his fitness for City on Tuesday night, Rodri succumbed to a hamstring injury.

Pep Guardiola can’t seem to get one player back this season without losing another, and losing the club’s record signing is another blow that will have to be worked out.

City’s coach said after the Champions League game that Rodri will hopefully be out for around ten days but that it could be three to four weeks if it is more serious. Whatever the diagnosis, it means more shuffling of the pack as the Blues plough on in three competitions and a serious gap given he has started 12 of 14 games this season.

Guardiola has options though, and Rodri’s frustration should provide opportunities for other players.

John Stones is an obvious candidate. The point of having two midfielders at centre-back (beside there being few centre-backs fit) was that the build-up would be better from defence.

City would simply start their moves from further back, enjoying more possession and thus more control of the game.

That was seen at Crystal Palace, and

Stones more than Otamendi is regarded as being able to start City’s play from the back. If he were to come in alongside Fernandinho at the back, that would give the team the best shot at continuity.

Alternatively, Otamendi is more used to playing with Fernandinho than Stones is, having been available for more games, so that defence could be reverted to.

What of Fernandinho though? He has spent this season at centre-back but with Rodri missing and two centrebacks fit could he be moved forward to the holding role he made his own for so many years and play in front of Stones and Otamendi?

Whether he does or not is likely to determine how many extra minutes Phil Foden gets.

Guardiola was won over to the idea of Gundogan in the holding role as Fernandinho struggled for fitness in the second half of last season.

While he plays there – as has happened for the last two games – there is one less rival for Foden to compete against.

He still has Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva, and potentially Bernardo Silva, but it at least makes him more likely to be turned to off the bench even if he doesn’t start.

Rodri’s injury on Tuesday was the last thing City wanted, but it’s testament to the versatility of the players available to Guardiola that he has different options depending on how much defensive protection or control of the ball he wants based on what the opponents offer.