Heading into the 2024/2025 Premier League season, Kyle Walker would have aspired to captain Manchester City to yet another league title.
Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho are the only skippers Manchester City have had to have led the club to multiple league titles.
Kompany lifted City to four league titles while the latter did so twice during his spell at the Etihad Stadium.
Kyle Walker made history for the first time last year but the task at hands seems even taller than during the previous campaign this time around.
Rodri won the Ballon d’Or after his exploits for club and country during the calendar year but he has been ruled out with an ACL injury for the entirety of the ongoing season; emphasising how difficult a task Manchester City have at their disposal in their pursuit for glory.
While Rodri is not the only absentee within Manchester City’s ranks, his side seem to be missing his presence in the middle of the park more than any of their other injured stalwarts.
- READ MORE: Who is Rodri? Get to know Man City’s modest midfield maestro who won a Champions League final
Kyle Walker rubbishes Rodri “excuse” after Man City’s Bournemouth defeat
Bournemouth ended City’s 32-game unbeaten run in the Premier League after beating them 2-1 on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola reacted to Manchester City’s unbeaten run ending by claiming that it was “great” that they were managed to sustain their streak in the first place.
After Manchester City lost to Bournemouth, Kyle Walker claimed that his teammates are not using Rodri’s prolonged absence as an “excuse” this season.
Walker said via Manchester City’s official website: “I don’t think we’re using that as an excuse. We’ve got players on the bench and players that started today that felt there were fit to start.”
“We don’t use that as an excuse. We have to give full credit to Bournemouth and move on, move onto the next one.”
“To come here and not get the win is always disappointing.”
Rodri admitted to feeling “desperate” to return to full fitness after witnessing City’s late 2-1 win against Wolves recently.
Pep Guardiola admitted Man City are “less strong” without Rodri
Recently, Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City miss Rodri, much like how Barcelona would have suffered in Lionel Messi’s absence.
Guardiola said: “Imagine in any sports, in basketball, Golden State Warriors play without Stephen Curry or Barcelona in their prime play without [Lionel] Messi.”
“So, they should be different. They should be less strong. It’s the same with us. Rodri is irreplaceable, we know it and the players [know it] and we have to move on.”
“What can I say? Kova’s [Mateo] playing there and Gundo’s [Ilkay Gundogan] playing there, they were exceptional and one day we play Manu [Manuel Akanji], we play John [Stones] in that position and I know they were playing good and this is what we have to do.”
Perhaps Walker and the rest of the Manchester City players are not letting themselves wallow in Rodri’s absence and are determined to win the league while he nurses his injury.
However, Pep Guardiola is aware that in the absence of any team’s protagonist, they are likely to suffer.
The challenge Guardiola and Walker would be facing as leaders of this Manchester City side is to ensure that they continue to remain an elite side in the Spaniard’s absence.
