Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has emphasised how important Rodri is to his side.
Speaking in his embargoed press conference (via BeanymanSports), the Catalan tactician gave his two cents on the £63 million (Independent) man.
Pep Guardiola believes Rodri is simply a far too vital cog in his Manchester City side.
Pep Guardiola says Rodri is undeniably important to Manchester City
Branded as ‘phenomenal’ by Danny Murphy, the 27-year-old is having yet another cracking season at the Etihad Stadium.
So much so that the Spaniard may just be City’s standout player this campaign and the best midfielder in the world.
Speaking about whether he has seen improvements in Kalvin Phillips’ game, Pep Guardiola suggested that even if that were the case, Rodri is virtually undroppable.
“Rodri is so important for us, I cannot deny it”, he said.
Simply put, any defensive midfielder in the world would simply have to sit on the sidelines and await their chance as the former Atletico Madrid lynchpin is a master of his craft.
Rodri is the most irreplaceable player at Manchester City
As seen when Pep Guardiola and Co. lost against the likes of Newcastle United, Wolves and Arsenal, the absence of Rodri hamstrings this seemingly invincible side.
One reason behind this is due to the lack of readiness from Kalvin Phillips as a backup to the three-time Premier League winner.
But it is also worth considering that no defensive midfielder in world football is as complete as Rodri.
Defensively, the ex-Villareal anchor’s reading of the game is second to none.
In possession, it seems like Rodri is perhaps the best the game has ever seen after Sergio Busquets.
While the treble-winner is also quite underappreciated as a creator, as he often finds the pre-assist in several of City’s goals.
Add Rodri’s clutch goals to the conversation and the Manchester City boss’ admission seems more than fair.
