Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side were undisputedly the most powerful team in England last season, and the final Premier League table was a ringing endorsement of the Citizens’ sheer dominance in the competition over the last many years. While it must be admitted that Jurgen Klopp and his resurgent Liverpool team pushed them all the way, at no point did it look like the Merseyside outfit were going to gain the ascendancy.
The Sky Blues understandably didn’t see the need to strengthen further in the attack and chose to use the summer transfer window to purchase a right-back in Joao Cancelo, and Atletico Madrid’s Spanish midfielder – Rodri. The 23-year-old was regarded to be one of the highest-rated holding midfielders in the continent before City signed him, and it’s safe to say that he’s done enough to maintain that reputation. The Spaniard’s infusion into this Manchester City squad has been quite seamless to sum it up.
What Attributes Do Rodri Bring To The Table?
The Spanish international is a defensive-midfielder by position but is composed enough to do a job going in the opposite direction if required. Often seen slotted just in front of the centre-halves and providing value covering, Rodri is an extremely athletic player, who isn’t afraid to put his body on the line for the sake of the team. Adept at maintaining possession by moving the ball around quickly, the Spaniard is also known for his defensive positioning.
While most of his strengths are in the defensive phase, it must be conceded that the Spaniard offers a considerable presence while going forward too. The former Atletico Madrid man is arguably one of the best passers of the ball in the City squad, and considering that players like Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva are also involved in the equation, that should be perceived as a massive compliment. Rodri’s height and physique make him a threat from set-piece situations as well.
How Has Rodri’s First Season At The Etihad Stadium Played Out?
The former La Liga midfielder was thrown straight into the mix by Guardiola at the start of the campaign, as he lined up for both the community shield win against Liverpool and the opening day thrashing of West Ham United. Since then, the Spaniard became a regular part of the Catalonian gaffer’s setup – offering both structure as well as mobility from his position in the core of the team. He played in a total of 26 league fixtures over the course of the campaign and even managed to get three goals and an assist along the way.
The holding midfielder’s ability to pass the ball accurately was highlighted in his statistics for the campaign. Boasting a strong pass success rate of just under 93 percent, the Spaniard has usually been quite reliable when releasing the ball from the midfield area. Moreover, the former La Liga ace plays a little less than five long balls every time he steps onto the pitch. Add in the fact that Rodri tends to make 1.7 tackles every game, and it shows why Pep Guardiola has placed so much trust in the midfielder’s defensive positioning.
As can be noticed from his seven yellow card offences this season, Rodri has shown that he does have a rough and rather unpolished side to his game, which can certainly prove to be an issue in high-pressure situations. Although the Spanish midfielder did have moments to forget along the way, they were heavily outweighed by the positives, with the biggest of them all coming in the Citizens’ Carabao Cup triumph against Aston Villa. The 23-year-old’s first cup final goal for Manchester City was definitely a moment to savour for the fans and staff alike.
What Should Manchester City Fans Expect From Rodri In The Years Ahead?
The initial signs have certainly been promising, and it would come as a pretty big surprise if Rodri’s Manchester City career goes downhill from here. It’s come to a point where the Spaniard’s influence in the middle of the park is key to the way the Citizens play, and with David Silva set to depart, and Fernandinho not getting any younger, Rodri remains well positioned to continue in the core of this City eleven for a long time to come.
Statistics: Whoscored
