The Manchester City squad seem better prepared to cover Rodri’s return to full fitness | OneFootball

Once Rodri went down last September with an ACL injury against Arsenal at the Etihad, there was a gaping wound in the Manchester City midfield. As the 24/25 season progressed, it was clear that Pep Guardiola’s squad couldn’t cover the loss of the current Ballon d’Or holder. Pep Guardiola has already shared his belief that Rodri likely won’t be back to full fitness until the September international break. Looking at the Manchester City squad, it does seem to be better equipped to cover the absence of Rodri while he works his way back to full fitness.

There are more midfield options in the Manchester City squad entering a new season.

Manchester City have been busy in the summer transfer window. The signings of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki,  Tijjani Reijnders, Marcus Bettinelli, Sverre Nypan, and James Trafford have given the City squad a stronger look. In midfield, Pep Guardiola’s squad looks to have better options to cover any absence of Rodri.

The signing of Tijjani Reijnders looms as a pivotal one. The Dutch international arrives at Manchester as a player in his prime. He has shown at AC Milan that he is one of the premier midfielders in European football. His technical quality and versatility loom as crucial elements to cover Rodri’s return to full fitness.

But there are other options for Pep Guardiola to utilise. Nico should be more settled at the club. The Spanish midfielder has all the necessary attributes to slot into City’s midfield. The tried and tested options of Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan are there. John Stones could also be a left-field choice to play in midfield. But there are more options in the City midfield than a season ago. That is good news for Manchester City as they enter a new campaign.

Tijjani Reijnders looms as a crucial player in the early stages of the 25/26 season.

As mentioned above, Tijjani Reijnders looms as a critical player for Manchester City in the early stages of the new season. In an interview with mancity.com, Reijnders has explained that he is willing to play in any position to help his new team. Speaking about how he was utilised at the recent FIFA Club World Cup, Tijjani Reijnders explained: “In the Club World Cup, I played three roles in the midfield, and I want to be a midfielder who can play in all of those roles. I want to play where the manager wants me to play, I will play, and I will do my best, of course.”

The versatility to play in a variety of roles in midfield of Tijjani Reijnders is going to be a crucial weapon for Pep Guardiola to call upon when the new season begins. Reijnders has the class and poise to slot into Rodri’s role. That was apparent at the FIFA Club World Cup. Reijnders is similar to Josko Gvardiol in that he is a Rolls-Royce on the pitch. He glides around the pitch and has the technical ability to split games wide open. Reijnders needs to be stronger in a challenge and read the game better, but he possesses every trait required to step into Rodri’s role if required.

The Manchester City midfield looks to be better equipped to cover Rodri’s return to full fitness. There are more options for Pep Guardiola to utilise and in Tijjani Reijnders, Manchester City look have another Rolls-Royce of a player in midfield.