Time is needed for Rodri, Manchester City's rhythmic playmaker. Returning from a significant knee problem was never going to be straightforward. He made a tentative comeback at the end of last season after an extended absence and is still adapting to a role the Ballon d’Or winner 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 withdraw the 29-year-old after an hour of the 2-2 draw in Monaco, having rested him completely for the weekend win over Burnley. There are little doubt that Rodri will return to his best, but the physical recovery need to match up with the mind and that, naturally, is not immediate after such a significant injury. What is also clear is that City need to evaluate their succession plan.
Late penalty for Monaco pegs back Manchester City after brace from Haaland
Nico González replaced his compatriot at the Stade Louis II and made headlines by bringing his protective gear to Eric Dier's face in the closing stages of the game. That ill-judged action cost his side victory and since arriving from Portugal for almost £50m, the 23-year-old has rarely given the impression of being a long-term replacement for Rodri. Admittedly, he has shown progress recently following a time to settle to life in England, but it remains doubtful that he can be a key defensive member of a team challenging for silverware in the English top flight and in Europe.
Mateo Kovacic has been an unused substitute in the recent matches 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 also isn't 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 wants him to play. The Dutchman can often be found on the edge of the opposition box, keen to take shots. He is clearly a technically gifted player but needs to use the ball quicker when City are confronting defensive teams, as they did in midweek. And overall, he is not the solution for Rodri.
Securing a backup for Rodri has consistently proven challenging because his collection of individual and team achievements demonstrate his quality. Kalvin Phillips was quickly deemed unable to handle the demands and responsibility of a pivotal role, becoming an initial casualty of Rodri's supreme competence.
It was in Monaco in 2017 that Guardiola realized how extensively needed to change at City, going on to overhaul the squad after being eliminated from Europe to a side that contained Fabinho, Bernardo Silva and an 18-year-old Kylian Mbappé. After a prolonged run of triumphs, it is minor adjustments that now require implementation, especially after heavy investment in recent windows.
Guardiola is rightly sensing a good season ahead for his team, although their display against Monaco did not indicate a comeback yet to their best form in Europe. City suffered from moments of inattention against the French opponents, resulting in excessive room for the opener and a facial contact incident. Overall they are depending excessively on the clinical finishing that Erling Haaland delivers, with the Norwegian's two goals in midweek taking his season total to an extraordinary 11 goals in eight appearances.
Short-term concerns and Future Planning
That is partly an immediate worry; in the future there persists the obvious requirement 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 appropriate stage and have the necessary qualities and mindset for the task of rivaling with the Spaniard and, potentially, replacing him.
The wheels will be turning in City's scouting department, 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 hunt should cease. Phillips, Kovacic and González have been failed to measure up with Rodri; the next in through the door simply cannot follow the identical trajectory.
