A-Rod proving to be Blues’ unsung hero!
IT takes a lot to dodge Pep Guardiola’s selection scythe, with even City’s most expensive and talented stars falling victim to his rotation roulette.
The latest was £100m summer signing Jack Grealish, who was benched for the derby because the manager wanted a left-footer on the left flank.
It doesn’t matter who the player is, under Guardiola, they could be pulled from the starting 11 at any moment to bend to his tactical will.
Which makes it all the more impressive that Rodri has started all but one of the games he has been available for this season in the Premier League and Champions League, with the only exception the opening day match against Spurs.
Guardiola soon learned his lesson after that 1-0 defeat and Rodri has played every minute he has been available for in the league since – missing the draw with Southampton due to injury – and has only been taken off once in Europe, when City were four goals up against Club Brugge.
It shows just how integral the Spaniard has become to City’s side. The defensive midfield position is such a crucial role in any Guardiola team and it has always fallen upon his most trusted players to execute his instructions to perfection.
Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Fernandinho. All excelled in the position – and now Rodri is doing the same.
The 25-year-old perhaps had a slow start to life in England after joining in the summer of 2019, no doubt hampered by his first season being disrupted by the pandemic, but he has adapted to the Premier League and is one of its best defensive midfielders in the division.
In fact, he might even be No.1, but he doesn’t quite attract the same plaudits as N’golo Kante, Wilfred Ndidi and Declan Rice as he isn’t all-action, as many of those are.
He doesn’t charge around the pitch, make lung-busting runs to get in on the action further up the field and make crunching tackles.
Rodri’s game is much more subtle. It’s all about positioning, being in the right place at the right time to snuff out danger before it even begins, solely focusing on protecting his defence.
Then, instead of getting involved in attacks, it’s his job to sit tight, remain an outlet for a pass backwards so moves can start over again when an opening doesn’t present itself.
It’s largely unexciting work that doesn’t get the pulse raising and, as a result, Rodri is often overlooked for how good he has become. City’s unsung hero.
Yet he doesn’t go underappreciated by the Blues faithful or, it appears, the squad.
With Rodri becoming undroppable in midfield, captain Fernandinho has only been given four starts in all competitions this season yet despite everything the Brazilian does, he hasn’t been missed in the slightest.
A couple of years ago there were big concerns about how City would cope when they lost their Brazilian maestro, but now Rodri has made that transition completely painless. There can’t be greater praise than that.