How important is Rodri for Manchester City?

A look at the importance of the Spaniard.

Transcript

00:00Obviously, you mentioned Rodri there. He's been arguably the best player at Euro 2024.

00:07He's got so much more football to play and going into another new season looks even better

00:13if that's possible from the last couple of seasons. What's your take on him and how important

00:17he is and how lucky Man City are to have such a gem in their side as well?

00:22Yes, I mean, lucky is one word for it. At the same time, Guardiola has clocked this

00:29player out, seen his potential and has honed him, I think, into this incredible, well-rounded

00:37midfielder. I mean, I was talking about this the other day. He just ticks all the boxes

00:41of everything you want from a defensive midfielder in terms of shielding the back four. He dictates

00:46the piece of play. His passing range is outstanding. I mean, physically, he's a monster. He's a

00:53beast, Rodri, as well. He just does everything you could ever want and also pops up with

00:57a few goals as well, which is helpful. But I think he's outstanding. I think he's one

01:02of the best players in the world. And I think that there were perhaps... I think that's

01:06been building over a bit of time, this opinion, but he's just outstanding. Man City couldn't

01:12be the team they are if it wasn't for Rodri. I mean, I think you could have plucked Kevin

01:16De Bruyne out and Phil Fogan come in and play that role. I think you could take John Stones

01:20out when he pushes into midfield and they find a way around. I don't think this team

01:24functions the same way without Rodri. I mean, they're producing the pudding. Every single

01:29game they lost last season in the Premier League, Rodri wasn't there. He only missed

01:33four games and then City lost three of them. So it's remarkable. And I think that, I mean,

01:38in terms of the international stage, which obviously he's been playing this summer, you

01:40know, I was looking into it a little bit. This is the first real tournament that he's

01:44actually played for Spain as a defensive midfielder because the previous Euros, he actually played

01:49back up to Sergio Busquets and didn't start any of the knockout games. He played centre-back

01:53at the last World Cup. And I think that this tournament, him playing defensive midfield,

01:58I mean, it's no coincidence that suddenly Spain looked like this fluid, efficient system

02:03that midfield functioned so effectively. And I think he gives licence at times for the

02:09likes of Danny Olmo and Fabian Ruiz to push on. So he's a remarkable, remarkable footballer,

02:14I think, and Manchester City should be, you know, blessed to have him. I think the one

02:19concern is, as we've touched on, he's just played so much football the last couple of

02:23years. He said in an interview this week that he is tired and, you know, I think Guardiola

02:28has to heed that warning and look to bring him back up. And if he can't bring him back

02:34up, you know, find a way of, if it is getting Calvin Phillips involved somehow, if it's

02:38playing Mateo Kovacic in that deeper role, if it's playing Rico Lloris. But I think he's

02:42got to be, he's got to listen to this warning now from Rodri because he can't be a player

02:47of his quality, burning out or maybe suffering from injuries as well. But I'd say just an

02:51absolutely incredible player.