Manchester City are currently in the hunt to land another Premier League title.
Specifically, after becoming the first side to win four consecutive Premier League trophies, the Blues are now aiming to secure a fifth.
However, City will have to do it without a player who has been pivotal to their previous league victories – Rodri.
After seeing the midfielder pick up a knee injury in City’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal, Pep Guardiola said that Rodri will be out injured for the season as a result.
This has now led to one fellow Spaniard and former Premier League star having his say on how this injury blow could impact the title race.
- READ MORE: Who is Rodri? Get to know Man City’s modest midfield maestro who won a Champions League final
Pablo Hernandez assesses Rodri injury blow
In a recent interview with Flashscore, former Leeds United star Pablo Hernandez, who is now the manager of CD Castellon’s B team, said this when asked how Rodri’s absence could impact the Premier League title race.
He said: “Well, last year it was very close, the truth is that the Premier [League] is a league that I follow a lot, that I watch many games and last year it was very very close and this year I think it will be similar.
“Everyone knows the importance of Rodri for his team, for City, he is an irreplaceable player.
“I make a little simile with [Sergio] Busquets in Barcelona, that Barcelona after Busquets has not been able to find anyone with that ability that he had. Both to defend and then attack with the ball.
“And they are unique players, that no matter how much you look you will not find any of his level and I think he can accuse him a little, but City is still a great team.”
What else has been said about the impact of Rodri’s injury?
Following the news of how long the Spain international is set to be out of action, Micah Richards claimed Rodri’s injury has made the title race more balanced between City and Arsenal.
In addition to that, Darren Bent said this about Arsenal’s chances of taking the title from City due to Rodri’s injury.
He said: “You’ve got more of a chance, but I still look at City’s team and think they’ve got some wonderful players. They’ve not got anyone to the level of what he can bring in that position.
“Whoever they put in there, [Mateo] Kovacic or [John] Stones, whatever they do, it’s going to be a drop-off because he’s so good at that role.
“You do go hmm, maybe there’s a chance but still with Manchester City and the players they’ve got and Pep the way he is, they’ll find other ways to, not mask it, but to get results without Rodri.”
Looking back to the previous Premier League campaign, the Blues only lost three league games, which just happened to be the three matches Rodri was suspended for.
City went on to finish just two points above Arsenal and had to rely on a final-day victory to clinch the title.
This is presumably how close Hernandez reckons it’ll be in this latest campaign, despite City not having Rodri available.
Overall, this highlights how highly the former Leeds star rates Guardiola’s side and the other players they have in their squad.
