Man City lost a key player in the opening match of the Premier League against Chelsea
Manager Pep Guardiola confirmed midfielder Rodri will miss Manchester City’s 2024/25 Premier League opener due to injury.
Manchester City will go into their 2024/25 Premier League opener against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday with a big loss to their squad, with manager Pep Guardiola confirming that key midfielder Rodri will be unavailable for the crucial game.
Rodri has become an integral part of the Man City squad since joining the club in 2020. He has played a key role in helping the team win four consecutive Premier League titles.
However, after being part of Spain’s Euro 2024 winning squad this summer, Rodri suffered an injury in the final against England, forcing him off early in the second half.
Rodri was injured in the final match of Euro 2024. Photo: Getty.
In his pre-match press conference, Guardiola said about Rodri’s condition: “He is training and feels well, but I don’t think he is ready to play yet. We will have to wait and see how he feels after training.”
When asked if Rodri could play at Stamford Bridge, Pep Guardiola insisted: “He won’t be able to play.”
Rodri’s absence could cause significant problems for Man City, with the team having lost their last four away games without the midfielder. This poses a major challenge for Guardiola in finding a suitable replacement to maintain balance and control in midfield.
Man City were unbeaten in the Premier League matches Rodri played in last season. Photo: Getty.
In addition to Rodri, Man City also face other losses in the squad. Young winger Oscar Bobb, who impressed in pre-season, broke his leg in training. Pep Guardiola shared:
“We are very sorry for him. What makes us sad is not his excellent pre-season, but his continued injury.” Bobb is expected to be out of action for up to four months.
However, it’s not all bad news for Man City. England trio Phil Foden, John Stones and Kyle Walker could feature in the game, despite only returning to training midweek after a long break. Pep said:
“I’m pretty sure they won’t be able to play 90 minutes, maybe 15 minutes. The important thing is that everyone is back and apart from Oscar (Bobb), the rest are fine.”
Some key Man City players have only just returned to training after playing with the national team. Photo: Getty.
Meanwhile, Jack Grealish is also having fitness problems and may not be ready for this match.
The match between Chelsea and Man City is not only a clash between two big teams but also an opportunity for The Citizens to start their campaign to defend the Premier League title with 3 full points. With the goal of winning the 5th consecutive championship, Man City will have to show their adaptability and squad depth in the face of challenges in terms of force.
For Chelsea, this is also an opportunity for them to demonstrate their progress under the new coach and make an impression right from the start of the season. The match will take place at 10:30 p.m. on August 18 (Vietnam time) at Stamford Bridge Stadium.
