Time is needed for Rodri, Manchester City's metronomic midfielder. Returning from a significant knee problem was always going to be challenging. He made a tentative comeback at the end of last season after an extended absence and is still adapting to a role the world's best player had made his own.
Pep Guardiola has been very explicit that Rodri cannot yet cope with the demands of completing three games in a week and, therefore, it was expected to see him replace the Spanish international after an hour of the 2-2 draw in Monaco, having rested him completely for the weekend victory against Burnley. There are no concerns that Rodri will not get back to his best, but the mechanics of the body need to align with the mind and that, naturally, is not instantaneous after such a major setback. What is also clear is that City need to evaluate their succession plan.
Late penalty for Monaco denies Manchester City after brace from Haaland
Nico González took over from Rodri at the Stade Louis II and created controversy by introducing his shin pad to Eric Dier's face in the closing stages of the game. That ill-judged action denied his team three points and since arriving from Portugal for almost £50m, the young midfielder has rarely given the impression of being a permanent solution for Rodri. Certainly, he has improved this season following a time to settle to life in England, but it continues uncertain that he can be a key defensive member of a team competing for trophies in the Premier League and in Europe.
Mateo Kovacic has watched from the bench in the past two games after recovering from surgery. The Croatian was the preferred option in the No 6 role during Rodri's absence, providing a physical presence, helped by being more accustomed to the Premier League than González, but he too is not a future solution, especially considering he's 31-years-old. The second part of the midfield pairing is Tijjani Reijnders, who keeps developing in the role Guardiola has assigned him. The Dutchman can frequently appear on the edge of the opposition box, keen to take shots. He is obviously a technically gifted player but needs to use the ball quicker when City are facing low blocks, as they did in their recent match. And overall, he is not the solution for Rodri.
Securing a backup for Rodri has always been difficult because his collection of individual and team accolades speak for themselves. Kalvin Phillips was rapidly judged incapable to handle the demands and duties of a key position, becoming an initial casualty of Rodri's supreme competence.
It was in Monaco in 2017 that Guardiola realized how extensively needed to transform the squad, going on to overhaul the squad after exiting the Champions League to a side that contained Fabinho, Bernardo Silva and an teenage Kylian Mbappé. After a prolonged run of triumphs, it is only tweaks that now require implementation, especially after heavy investment in recent windows.
Guardiola is correctly anticipating a successful campaign for his team, although their performance in Monaco did not indicate a comeback yet to their peak European performance. City experienced moments of inattention against the French opponents, resulting in excessive room for the opener and a late kick to the face. In general they are relying too heavily on the clinical finishing that Erling Haaland provides, with the Norwegian's two goals in midweek taking his tally for the season to an extraordinary 11 goals in eight appearances.
Short-term concerns and Long-term Solutions
That is partly an immediate worry; long-term there remains the glaring need to develop a successful succession plan for Rodri. If City were to search domestically for an replacement, Elliot Anderson at Nottingham Forest or Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton are at the right age and have the right attributes and mindset for the challenge of competing with the Spaniard and, possibly, taking his place.
The wheels will be turning in City's recruitment room, with those involved evaluating various defensive midfielders around the world. None will have the same skillset and ability of the current incumbent, but that does not mean that the search can stop. Phillips, Kovacic and González have been failed to measure up with Rodri; the next arrival simply must avoid the identical trajectory.
