Ian Cheeseman: Forever Blue

Just three weeks ago, I started my column with the words, “Let’s talk about Rodri”, which had become a chant about the Manchester City midfielder and his winning goal in last season’s Champions League Final.

I’d written about how crucial he had become in Pep Guardiola’s team. He was then sent off against Nottingham Forest which meant he would miss three City games. The Blues have lost every one of those matches.

His first absence was the midweek trip to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup, where the Blues lost 1-0 to go out of the competition. That was an unusual game that he may well have not been selected for, even if he’d been available. Guardiola said publicly, before the game, that he didn’t want to take any risks. City will be competing in the World Club Cup when the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup take place, so I believe it suited City to go out.

Rodri then missed the Premier League trip to Wolves and during the second half the home side bullied City and caught them on the counter attack, winning 2-1. This was City’s first League defeat of the season. Next stop was Leipzig in the group stage of the Champions League. Personally, I believe City couldn’t have been drawn in an easier group, facing Young Boys of Switzerland, Red Star Belgrade and Leipzig, who City have faced frequently in recent years.

The 3-1 win in Germany, with Rodri able to play, because the suspension only applied to domestic games, was comfortable. Leipzig looked overawed by facing the European Champions and were passive throughout. Next stop was Premier League title rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Pep had said, in a press conference, that after the win in Germany, Rodri would have a few days in the Maldives while City took on the Gunners. I wonder what was going through his mind as toothless City lost out to a late Ake own goal in a 1-0 defeat?

City have played three and lost three during Rodri’s three game suspension. How have City become so reliant on Rodri? There’s no doubt he has developed into an exceptional player, but during the last few seasons of City dominance they’ve seemingly never been so dependant on one player. As well as being out all this season, Kevin De Bruyne has had other lengthy absences out through injury, but the Blues have kept on playing well and winning.

Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva also missed key games, last season, but the Guardiola machine coped, but suddenly the absence of Rodri will be seen as the reason for City’s dip in form. Surely it can’t be as simple as that? If it is, then that’s a worry. If Rodri sustains the type of injury that has sidelined De Bruyne for so long, then the Blues would be in trouble, if that were the case.

There will be lots of City fans reading this who will say that Pep’s team have bounced back from defeats before and being behind in the Title race is nothing new. They’re right of course. They’ll also argue that Erling Haaland’s current goal drought will only be temporary, which almost certainly is also true. However, City have not been playing at the levels they’ve been performing at in recent seasons, even during their run of wins at the start of the season.

We’re now in the second International break of the season and City will return to action with Rodri fit and raring to go. Kevin De Bruyne is getting closer to a return. John Stones is back too, so Pep will have his full squad to select from as they go into a five week period when they travel to Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and Villa Park and have home games against Liverpool and Spurs. Fascinating times lay ahead. Isn’t it Great to be a Blue!