Manchester City’s midfield has a completely different look which was on full display against Juventus | OneFootball

Manchester City beat Juventus 5-2 at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando yesterday. Pep Guardiola’s side put in their best performance of the FIFA Club World Cup as they suffocated Igor Tudor’s side in a powerful display. There was a host of positives to take from yesterday’s match for Manchester City. Perhaps the biggest was that Manchester City’s midfield dominated yesterday’s match. With Rodri returning to the starting lineup and Tijjani Reijnders starting alongside him with Bernardo Silva there was a different look to Manchester City’s midfield. Reijnders and Rodri both played a key role in City’s win yesterday.

Rodri got through 65 minutes against Juventus and looked it getting back to his best.

When the starting lineups were announced for yesterday’s match in Orlando, the biggest surprise was that Rodri started his first game since rupturing his ACL. Manchester City’s midfield general had made two appearances off the bench against Wydad AC and Al Ain. He started his first match since September yesterday and he quickly reminded everyone of his immense quality with a strong performance

First of all, Rodri got around the pitch well. His athleticism and movement stood out. After suffering such a severe injury how a player comes back and moves is always a concern. But that concern has quickly been put to bed. Rodri moved well and dictated the midfield battle alongside Tijjani Reijnders and Bernardo Silva. That was a major positive from yesterday’s match.

Another was that Rodri’s touch was there as he was superb when in possession. He also put himself into challenges and played a key role in Manchester City’s dominance over Juventus. There is still rust to Rodri’s game but it is beginning to fade. Manchester City are a better team with Rodri fit and there was a major glimpse of this fact yesterday.

Rodri was only meant to play 45 minutes against Juventus.

Speaking after the game, Pep Guardiola revealed that Rodri was only meant to play 45 minutes. But Manchester City’s midfield general asked to play more minutes. Speaking on Rodri and his return to the pitch, Pep Guardiola told the media: “We had to make a step. Of course we were lucky a little bit that the sun was behind the clouds, it was hot and humid, but sooner or later he has to play.”

“It was a process of 20 minutes, 25 minutes, 35 minutes. I said OK, the minutes idea was to play 45 minutes, but at half-time he said no I want to play five or ten minutes more, the game was under control, we had a lot of the ball, he didn’t lose a lot of transitions, in the last two games we conceded a lot of transitions but it didn’t happen that time.”

Pairing Tijjani Reijnders with Rodri gives Manchester City’s midfield a different dimension.

Rodri starting and playing well was a major positive for Manchester City against Juventus. But there was another major positive in terms of Manchester City’s midfield to come out of yesterday’s match. That was how well the midfield pairing of Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders performed.

Rodri and Reijnders started their first match together against Juventus. On paper, their games do seem to complement each other. But besides 25 minutes against Wydad AC, the pair hadn’t played together. They started in midfield yesterday against Juventus, with Bernardo Silva forming a midfield trio. What Rodri and Reijnders produced was full of promise.

The athleticism of Rodri and Reijnders added a new dimension to Manchester City’s midfield. The pair are big and powerful runners and that helped them control yesterday’s match alongside Bernardo Silva. Last season, Manchester City’s midfield didn’t have the athleticism it needed to contend with a multitude of opponents. Adding Rodri and Reijnders to the mix changes the equation entirely. Both players are gifted technically and intelligent so their pairing offers Manchester City a completely different look. It also offers up a multitude of options for Pep Guardiola in midfield.

With Rodri and Reijnders as the base of City’s midfield, Pep Guardiola has endless possibilities.

Rodri and Reijnders together in midfield offer Manchester City a formidable and powerful midfield pairing. But if the pair gel together a host of other possibilities open up for Pep Guardiola. Yesterday, Bernardo Silva played with Rodri and Reijnders. His work rate and ability to do the dirty work helped the pair shine. But looking ahead, there are more possibilities for Guardiola to explore with such a strong midfield base.

With Rodri and Reijnders together the potential of Rayan Cherki or Phil Foden playing in midfield opens up. Foden and Cherki could thrive in the number 10 role with Rodri and Reijnders behind them. They could also profit from the forward runs that Reijnders, in particular, and Rodri make. That’s one exciting proposition to ponder. If Manchester City need security in midfield, playing Bernardo Silva, Nico, Mateo Kovacic, or Ilkay Gundogan with Reijnders and Rodri offers this. There are now a host of quality options at Pep Guardiola’s disposal with Rodri and Reijnders paired in midfield.

The first glimpse of Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders paired in midfield came yesterday against Juventus. It was a powerful performance from the pair against Igor Tudor’s side. If their showing at the Camping World Stadium is a sign of things to come, Manchester City will have an athletic, powerful and technically gifted midfield to employ next season.