Manchester City have now made it to the last international break of 2024.
In the past couple of weeks leading up to this break, City have lost four matches in a row across all competitions, the first time a side led by Pep Guardiola has done so.
Having had to deal with various injury and fitness issues throughout the campaign, City are in second place in the Premier League table, in the knockout section of the Champions League table and out of the Carabao Cup.
With Guardiola admitting City needed the international break to arrive when it did after seeing his side lose 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, a pundit has since gone on to make himself look silly regarding recent comments he’s made concerning one of the Manchester club’s key figures.
- Man City 2024/25 squad cost in full: Transfer fees and stats for every player
Gary Neville stunned by Pep Guardiola’s lack of ingenuity amid Rodri absence
Gary Neville discussed how Guardiola’s use of Mateo Kovacic as the main antidote for Rodri’s absence has shocked him, saying this on the subject.
He said: “I can’t believe he has just gone [Mateo] Kovacic in. I said this when he got injured Rodri, I was expecting him to come up with something like a three at the back or something different.”
Why Neville is wrong about Guardiola’s Rodri-less City tactics
During City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium back in September, Rodri suffered a season-ending knee injury, leaving Guardiola to get through the rest of the campaign with his talismanic midfielder.
On numerous occasions this season, City have deployed a three-at-the-back system, mainly due to Rico Lewis venturing into a midfield role and leaving three other members of the backline in a defensive area.
In addition to that, Guardiola previously named John Stones and Manuel Akanji as being capable of playing in Rodri’s position.
However, the defensive duo have struggled with injury issues recently, not allowing the £378k-a-week manager to use them in that particular area.
While City have undeniably had a rough spell of results, Neville should take a closer look at what Guardiola has been doing with his side to help deal with Rodri’s absence rather than just assume he’s done something as simple as handed Kovacic the baton and expect him to do everything the Spaniard does.
