Manchester City have endured a very difficult season in which they’ve failed to win a trophy for the first time in eight years.
However, Manchester City aren’t planning to stay down – relatively speaking – for too long, with their rebuild already under way.
City are now among the favourites to qualify for the Champions League after running out 3-1 winners over Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
And in the process, City fans witnessed something they feel will make them almost unstoppable next season.
Manchester City fans looking forward to Rodri and Nico Gonzalez pivot
The City vs Bournemouth game was full of ups and downs for the home fans, and one of the ups was Rodri’s return to action.
Rodri had been on the sidelines for most of the season due to injury, but he was finally back just in time for City’s Club World Cup campaign.
In addition, Pep Guardiola brought Nicolas Gonzalez on, a player who City fans have been wanting to see much more of since his winter move.
He capped his appearance off the bench with his first goal for the club – and what a goal it was too.
City fans now feel the prospect of Rodri and Gonzalez playing in midfield at the same time would be a force to be reckoned with.
One supporter wrote on X: “Nico Gonzalez playing along Rodri will destroy football.”
Another said: “Just hear me out, Nico Gonzalez & Rodri could be a DEMON pivot next season. Nico as a #8 and Rodri as a #6.
“With that being said, we still need Tijjani Reijnders and a creative midfielder. Just really refreshing to see Nico Gonzalez operating as an energetic #8 tonight.”
The praise kept coming, with one fan saying: “Nico X Rodri is what we’ve been missing in our midfield.”
Another supporter wrote: “Nico- Rodri pivot next season. l am already there man. cinema.”
And another said: “Rodri x Nico Gonzalez, it’s gonna be scary.”
What Pep Guardiola said about Manchester City’s ‘Mini Rodri’
Back in March, Gonzalez impressed against Newcastle, and Guardiola said Gonzalez reminded him of Rodri.
“We were really good,” Guardiola told reporters. “Good energy up front.
“Nico Gonzalez helped us a lot. I was really pleased because we needed him. It has been a tough three months.
“He is our mini Rodri. He has a huge presence, his pace, and his time at the Barcelona academy, it is all about the ball and positioning.
“He has the desire to have success in the Premier League, he is here to prove himself.”
City fans are yet to see the best of the 23-year-old, but he’s certainly working hard to improve.
Rodri is learning from Guardiola, Ilkay Gundogan and other world-class coaches and players – and it’ll be exciting to see what he’s like after a full pre-season under his belt.
