Rodri is the best holding midfielder in the world – but there is a strong possibility that he will not be fit for Manchester City’s opening Premier League game against Chelsea this Sunday.

The midfielder will be the final player to return to the Manchester City squad, after he went all the way at Euro 2024 with Spain.

The England boys – Kyle Walker, John Stones and Phil Foden – have returned to the CFA today, while Rodri will be back on Wednesday according to the MEN.

Rodri went off injured at half-time against England, and it has been all quiet regarding his fitness. No news is potentially good news, but the fact he is returning so late makes his involvement against Chelsea doubtful.

It is an uncomfortable feeling for any City fan when Rodri doesn’t play. But it does sometimes happen and Sunday could well be one of those occasions.

Manchester City News now takes a look at three ways Pep Guardiola can try to cover the absence of such a key player.

Mateo Kovacic single pivot

Mateo Kovacic‘s chances of starting against his former club his weekend are very high.

The £30 million midfielder made a late return to the City squad after playing at Euro 2024, but he was still back in decent time and featured in the friendlies against Barcelona and Chelsea.

The City team looked better for him being in it, and Kovacic was also excellent against Manchester United in the Community Shield.

Unless he picks up an injury in training, he will be nailed on to start if Rodri cannot play, and there is also a high chance of him still starting if Rodri somehow plays against the Blues.

The 30-year-old is a bit more mobile than Rodri and can go from box-to-box, but we have also seen him operate as a deep-lying midfielder on occasion and he certainly has the technical quality and tactical understanding to cover for Rodri as a single pivot if Pep doesn’t feel Nico O’Reilly is quite ready.

Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic double pivot

But young Nico O’Reilly is certainly in with a chance of starting against Chelsea on Sunday.

The teenager is now a new first-team option, and played alongside Kovacic in the games against Barcelona and Chelsea, and then against United in the Community Shield. He was also involved against Celtic and AC Milan and looked very impressive.

O’Reilly has the potential to be a breakout star this season, and he could really boost his chances of getting a decent level of game time with a good first showing against Chelsea.

Pep might just want to give him that chance if Rodri cannot play.

He obviously has an understanding with Kovacic after playing with him for the last three games, and it would be no surprise if the manager did go with the both of them.

Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic double pivot

After the signing of Savinho this summer, it is likely we will be seeing Bernardo Silva playing much more in middle this season.

He has often cropped up alongside Rodri, with his technical quality allowing him to thrive in tight spaces. He brings a lot of control in the engine room, something we know Pep is obssessed with.

It is very possible that Oscar Bobb will be playing on the right side against Chelsea after a fantastic pre-season.

This would allow for Bernardo to move inside and possibly partner Kovacic in midfield.

This is potentially the duo that a lot of City fans would feel most comfortable seeing against Enzo Maresca’s side.

Mateo Kovacic with Rico Lewis inverting

Should Pep not quite feel like it is a game for O’Reilly, then he might consider having Kovacic playing as the holding midfielder, with Rico Lewis inverting from right-back.

Walker is back in training now ahead of that opening game against Chelsea, and it may well be that he is not fit or sharp enough to start.

Should he be on the bench, then Rico Lewis must get the nod. It is no less than he deserves after a great pre-season from him.

We have seen Lewis look very comfortable in midfield areas for City since he came into the first-team, and the 19-year-old is surely going to be an option to provide support for Kovacic if Rodri isn’t playing.

Related Topics