Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been ruled out for the rest of the season, manager Pep Guardiola confirmed on Friday.
The club have now learnt the influential Spain international suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage in last Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Premier League title rivals Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. The 28-year-old has undergone surgery and will not be available again until next season.
"Surgery this morning, ACL and next season he will be here," said Guardiola. "This season is over. Unfortunately we got the worst but these things happen. We will be there to support him in his recovery step by step.
"What he gives us, we don’t have a similar player. But the others can all together replace what Rodri has given since his arrival to us. We will have to do it as a team and find a way to play a lot of matches without an important player for us.
"If we don’t win then it is because of Rodri. We are stronger with him and stronger with [Nathan] Ake and [Oscar] Bobb and Kevin [De Bruyne] but that is what it is. We don’t want it but it is football. As a club we have magnificent players and we will find a solution."
Asked if City would sign a replacement in the January window, Guardiola added: "We will talk, we will see what is going on. We have time to see."
Rodri's injury, sustained in an innocuous tussle with Thomas Partey, was one of several flashpoints in a heated game between the two rivals.
City's players accused Arsenal of consistently bending the rules as they sought to hold on to their 2-1 lead after Leandro Trossard had been sent off.
Erling Haaland, in particular, was fired up and involved in a running battle with the Arsenal players. He threw the ball into Gabriel's head after John Stones' last-gasp goal made it 2-2.
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John Stones celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal in their 2-2 Premier League draw with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024. AFP -
City defender John Stones scores to make it 2-2. AP -
John Stones celebrates after scoring Manchester City's late leveller. Getty Images -
A dejected Ben White of Arsenal after Manchester City's late goal. Reuters -
Riccardo Calafiori celebrates after scoring for Arsenal in the 22nd minute. Getty Images -
Gabriel heads home Arsenal's second goal in first-half injury time. Reuters -
Arsenal players react as referee Michael Oliver shows a red card to Leandro Trossard, centre. Getty Images -
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remonstrates with the fourth official after Leandro Trossard's sending off. AP -
Arsenal defender Gabriel celebrates after scoring. PA -
Riccardo Calafiori scores for Arsenal to make it 1-1. Getty Images -
Manchester City's Kyle Walker argues with referee Michael Oliver after Riccardo Calafiori's goal for Arsenal. PA -
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. AP -
Erling Haaland puts Manchester City 1-0 up after nine minutes. Reuters -
City midfielder Rodri after picking up an injury that saw him taken off early in the game. PA -
A big screen at the Etihad Stadium highlights fact that Erling Haaland has reached 100 goals for Manchester City. Getty Images -
Arsenal defender Gabriel heads over the bar in the first half. Reuters -
Erling Haaland celebrates with teammates after scoring for Manchester City. Getty Images
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, formerly an assistant to Guardiola, was asked on Friday whether the rivalry had damaged their relationship.
But Arteta said: "I love him, I respect him, I admire him and his team and everything that he does. This is sport and a personal relationship.
"If my relationship has to be damaged because one draws and the other one wins when we play against each other, the amount of times that we have lost, then I wouldn’t talk to him anymore.
"It’s sport and it will never get in the way of a personal relationship for sure.”
