Manchester City have dropped points once again in the Premier League, losing to a superb Aston Villa side.
City rocked up at Villa Park looking to return to winning ways after drawing against Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
It was always going to be a tough game against high-flying Villa, and the hosts were bang at it all game.
Unai Emery’s side were far superior to City, keeping the ball really well and pressing Pep Guaridola’s men into regular mistakes.
In the second-half, Villa were again really good all over the park and did not allow City to get into the game, and it was Leon Bailey who grabbed the winner via a deflection off Ruben Dias.
Aston Villa defeat further exposed how poor Manchester City are without Rodri
Villa were absolutely superb tonight and deserve a lot of credit for their performance..
But this was yet another suggestion of just how crucial Rodri is to Manchester City.
The Spaniard could not play tonight having picked up a fifth booking of the season against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.
Pep went with John Stones and Manuel Akanji in holding midfield. This was always going to be a big risk because it was Stones’ first game back from injury.
The pair were completely outclassed by the Villa midfield, which included Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Douglas Luiz, all of whom were terrific.
Both of them both just looked very clunky and letharic, especially Stones which was understandable given his lack of football this season.
Watching the game, it was hard not to think about Rodri – whom John Obi Mikel recently described as ‘unbelievable’ – and the control he would have brought.
Tonight, City were frantic and chaotic. When Rodri plays, there tends to be calmness and control.
The £63 million star is the best holding midfield player in the world and so, his absence was bound to be felt somewhat against a very good team.
But City have now lost all the games that he has not played this season, which really does indicate how crucial he is.
