This season has been a disaster for Manchester City. With one loss after another, their chances of retaining the Premier League title are nearly gone. Even in the Champions League, they’ve struggled to secure a place in the knockout rounds.
Now, they’ll have to face Real Madrid to make it to the quarter-finals, and given their recent form, it’s going to be a tough challenge. The question is, how did a team that has dominated European football in recent seasons end up in this situation?
There are several reasons behind City’s struggles, but one issue that has repeatedly come up in recent days is the absence of defensive midfielder Rodri. He had become the heartbeat of City’s midfield in recent times. The Ballon d’Or contender could orchestrate the team’s play from deep, and with his season cut short due to an ACL injury, City has yet to find a replacement for him.
In light of the team’s current struggles, fans and everyone involved are eagerly awaiting Rodri’s return. When he got injured, it was clear that he wouldn’t be back before the end of the season.
The good news is that Rodri has already begun his recovery process. In fact, when he recently traveled to New Orleans for the Super Bowl, he took one of Manchester City’s medical staff with him.
Speaking about his recovery, Rodri said, “I’m happy to be at the Super Bowl, but the important thing is getting myself back. That’s why I’ve also been doing training sessions to recover from the travel.”
Recently, Manchester City shared a video on their Instagram page showing Rodri working out in the gym.
While he won’t be back this season, it’s expected that he could return at the start of the next season. There’s even a chance he could make his comeback in the Club World Cup in June. However, City manager Pep Guardiola said last week that he doesn’t want Rodri to rush back and risk further injury. Instead, Guardiola wants a fully fit Rodri when he returns to the squad.
