PREMIER LEAGUE
Why isn’t Rodri playing for Manchester City against Ipswich in the Premier League today?
After missing the opening Premier League victory against Chelsea, Euro 2024 MVP Rodri remains absent for Pep Guardiola’s team against Ipswich Town.
Manchester City made history in the Premier League last season, becoming the first team to win four consecutive titles. Pep Guardiola’s side are hoping to make it five in a row in 2024/25, although they have been forced to kick off the campaign without key midfielder Rodri, for many the most important player in the team, in their opening two matches against Chelsea and Ipswich Town.
Rodri’s injury issues in Euro 2024 final
Over the summer, the 28-year-old starred for Spain as they won the 2024 European Championship, in which he was named the player of the tournament. However, he was forced off at halftime in the final against England with what appeared to be a knee issue.
Before last Sunday’s fixture against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Guardiola explained that Rodri hadn’t done any preseason training at all and therefore wouldn’t be available for selection against The Blues. And he remains absent as City play their opening home Premier League game of the season against newly-promoted Ipswich Town.
On Friday, Guardiola revealed the Spaniard was “getting better” but that he still wasn’t taking part in group training. He also stated he didn’t think Rodri would feature against Ipswich, which is ultimately the case.
Rodri’s incredible impact at Manchester City
Since moving to City in the summer of 2019, the Spaniard has won four Premier League titles, only failing to lift the trophy in his first season with the club.
He scored the winning goal in the 2023 Champions League final and has also won two League Cups, the FA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Rodri memorably went 74 games and 475 days without losing while playing for Manchester City, not including the penalty shootout against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals. The run came to an end in last season’s FA Cup final, when Manchester United defeated their city rivals at Wembley.
Will Ilkay Gündogan play for City against Ipswich?
Ilkay Gündogan completed his return to his former club from Barcelona on Friday, with confirmation of his free transfer preceded by a viral social media post. The German has been cleared to play against Ipswich and has been named on the bench for the game.