Manchester City will have to achieve winning an unprecedented fifth Premier League title without star midfielder Rodri after it was confirmed he tore his ACL against Arsenal.
The Spaniard was taken off in the first half against the Gunners in City’s recent 2-2 draw last weekend, with it later announced he would be out for the majority of the season. While it has yet to be fully confirmed whether or not Rodri will be able to return before the final few weeks of the 2024/25 campaign, losing the 28-year-old is a bitter blow to Pep Guardiola’s side.
Undoubtedly the best holding midfielder in the world, the City star made more than 50 appearances in each of the last five seasons for club and country, and had been talking just days prior to his ACL injury about players going on strike over playing too much football.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta confirms Martin Odegaard’s injury length with star set to miss more games
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However, Guardiola will now have to come up with a new plan of action to replace Rodri just a month into the new season. And with that in mind, Daily Star Sport asked AI chatbot ChatGPT just how the City boss could do so.
Mateo Kovacic as a deep-lying playmaker
(Image: Getty Images)
Perhaps the most obvious option, ChatGPT believes Guardiola will opt to utilise Mateo Kovacic as a deep-lying playmaker in Rodri’s absence. The Croatian replaced Rodri against Arsenal and in this scenario, City would like up in a 4-3-3 with him as their pivot behind Portuguese duo Bernardo Silva and Matheus Nunes.
ChatGPT writes: “Mateo Kovacic could drop into a deeper role as a more progressive passer, while Silva and Nunes provide energy, creativity, and box-to-box play. This keeps City’s fluid style intact but sacrifices some of Rodri’s physicality and ball-winning.”
John Stones as a hybrid defensive midfielder
(Image: Getty Images)
Less utilised last term compared to their treble winning 2022/23 season, City could look to use John Stones, who scored against Arsenal, in his hybrid role that saw the centre-back step up in possession to become a defensive midfielder.
In this scenario, City would line up in a 4-1-4-1 which would become a 3-2-4-1 in possession, with Stones playing alongside Kovacic in a double pivot. ChatGPT says: “John Stones has previously played in a hybrid role under Guardiola, stepping from defense into midfield to control the game. He could take up a defensive midfield position when City have the ball, keeping the midfield compact while Kovacic links play.”
Bernardo Silva as a deep playmaker
(Image: Getty Images)
While we’re not fully convinced by this suggestion, ChatGPT reckons Bernardo Silva could do a job in a deeper role for City in a 4-3-3 with Phil Foden and Nunes operating ahead of him. The versatile midfielder, who Guardiola uses all over the pitch, is an excellent technician, but lacks the physicality of Rodri.
“Bernardo Silva has excellent defensive work rate, vision, and technical ability,” writes ChatGPT. “He could be trusted to play deeper than usual, controlling tempo and linking up with more advanced midfielders, while Foden and Nunes provide the attacking thrust.”
Matheus Nunes as the deep-lying midfielder
(Image: PA)
Signed last summer for £53m from Wolves, Matheus Nunes made just 17 appearances in the Premier League last term. However, he could be set to feature much more this term following Rodri’s injury, with ChatGPT claiming he would bring some ‘dynamic ball carrying’ to City’s midfield.
“Matheus Nunes, who joined City last summer to add depth and flexibility in midfield, can be deployed as the deepest-lying midfielder in this system,” writes ChatGPT, who proposes the Portugal international plays alongside Silva and Kovacic in this scenario.
“Nunes is a dynamic ball carrier with good defensive awareness, which could help City transition through midfield while covering for Rodri’s absence. Silva and Kovacic offer creativity and ball retention ahead of him.”
Rico Lewis in a hybrid midfield role
(Image: Getty Images)
So far this season, 19-year-old Rico Lewis has featured more for City than Kyle Walker has, who returned late during pre-season following the European Championships this past summer. However, with Rodri now sidelined, Lewis could be set for an even bigger role this season.
The young defender could invert into a hybrid midfield role, similar to how Stones does from centre-back. In this scenario, City would field a back line from left to right of Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, John Stones and Lewis, with the latter moving inside to link up with one of Kovacic or Nunes.
ChatGPT writes: “Lewis could be deployed in his hybrid role, where he starts from right-back but moves into central midfield when City have possession. This would create a double pivot alongside Kovacic, giving City extra control in midfield without sacrificing the defensive structure.
“Lewis has demonstrated an ability to play intelligently in this role, allowing for fluidity in City’s build-up play. This system emphasises flexibility, with Rico Lewis acting as a key connector between defence and attack.”