Man City confirm Rodri injury: what is it and how long will he be out for?

Manchester City has officially confirmed via a statement that Rodri Hernández has suffered a ligament injury, though the exact severity remains unspecified.

“Manchester City FC can confirm that Rodri has suffered a ligament injury to his right knee,” the statement reads. “The injury was sustained during the first half of this weekend’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League.

“The midfielder travelled to Spain to seek specialist consultation this week, following initial tests in Manchester. Assessment remains ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the injury and expected prognosis.

“Everyone at the Club wishes him a speedy recovery and mancity.com will bring you regular updates regarding his rehabilitation.”

Rodri expected to miss entire season

Despite the initial optimism after the match, where Rodri was seen conversing with teammates and opponents in the centre circle following the final whistle, early examinations confirmed a ruptured cruciate ligament. The player traveled to Spain for more thorough tests, and after visiting Dr. Cugat’s clinic in Barcelona, the diagnosis remained unclear, though the injury was confirmed. Rodri Hernández is expected to miss the rest of the season.

What began as a thrilling last-minute equaliser for Pep Guardiola’s side against Arsenal (2-2) has now been overshadowed by this devastating news. Fans feared the worst when they saw Rodri’s painful expressions on the Etihad Stadium pitch just 15 minutes into the game. Despite initial hope, the worst has now materialised.

Rodri’s injury potentially marks a turning point in City’s season, impacting their Premier League title defence and their Champions League ambitions. While Guardiola still has an in-form Erling Haaland – who has netted 10 goals in five matches – and the brilliance of Phil Foden, last season’s Premier League Player of the Season, the absence of Rodri, arguably the most influential player in City’s squad, will be keenly felt. His loss, alongside other stars like Kevin de Bruyne or Ilkay Gündogan, leaves a significant gap in Guardiola’s tactical plans.

This severe knee injury may be seen as an unfortunate accident, but it reflects a deeper issue: Rodri had repeatedly expressed concerns about the overwhelming number of matches and lack of rest. Unfortunately, he is not the only top player to have suffered in recent months, but in Rodri’s case, the signs of impending trouble were clear.

The importance of Rodri to Man City

In recent seasons, Rodri has played nearly every match. He’s appeared in an astonishing 185 games over the last three campaigns – more than 60 matches per season – making it almost impossible for him to stay healthy for such an extended period. In the 2021/22 season, he played 46 matches for City and five for Spain; in 2022/23, he participated in 56 for City and 16 for Spain, including a mid-season World Cup and the Nations League finals. In 2023/24, he played 50 matches for City and eight for the national team, including Euro 2024 qualifiers. This season, despite starting later due to recovering from an injury sustained in the Euro final, he had already played three games for City and one for Spain.

Despite this intense schedule, Rodri had largely avoided major injuries until now. He had a major scare with his knee during a match against Fluminense, narrowly avoiding disaster. Another near-miss came in the Euro final, where he suffered a muscular injury and missed the second half, though the campaign ended in triumph with the title. In terms of suspensions, his only notable absence came after a red card against Nottingham Forest, which kept him out for three matches. Other than that, he had little rest.

City’s squad planning also contributed to the increased risk of injury for Rodri. The club signed Kalvin Phillips as a potential backup, but Guardiola didn’t trust him even for lower-priority matches. Matheus Nunes, brought in as another midfield option, also failed to fill the role. Even the addition of Mateo Kovacic didn’t provide the solution, as Kovacic was rarely deployed as the sole holding midfielder, with City struggling when Rodri wasn’t in the lineup. The situation with Ilkay Gündogan, who left for Barcelona and later returned, also highlighted this issue. While Gündogan’s presence was important, he was never a true replacement for Rodri in Guardiola’s eyes. No one could adequately step into such a specialized role, and the cracks were always there. Now solutions must be found.