Scans reveal true extent of Rodri’s injury sustained during Arsenal win | OneFootball

Manchester City’s pursuit of yet another Premier League title has been met with a new hurdle via a fresh injury blow sustained by Rodri.

The Spanish international – who famously secured the 2024 Ballon d’Or – was forced off during the closing stages of Manchester City’s vital 2-1 win over Premier League rivals Arsenal on Sunday evening.

While not being able to offer an accurate picture of the problem when speaking immediately after the win, Pep Guardiola confirmed that the defensive midfielder would be sidelined for the next top-flight encounter which comes at Turf Moor against Burnley.

Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, Guardiola told reporters on Rodri’s injury, “I think he will not be ready for tomorrow and we will see for the next games. Maybe [he can play against] Southampton or maybe [against Everton] in 12, 13 days.”

What have scans revealed on Rodri’s injury?

Now, according to The Times’ Paul Hirst, scans have revealed that Rodri has sustained a calf injury, despite the original belief being that the Spaniard had sustained a groin issue at the weekend.

Those same scans have also revealed that the issue is not serious, however Pep Guardiola could yet leave Rodri out of the weekend’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton as a precaution, with a view towards getting him back to full fitness for the Premier League run-in.

The timing is far from ideal for City, who had finally clawed their way back to within just three points of the Gunners, knowing that a win at Turf Moor would see them leapfrog Mikel Arteta’s side for the first time in over 200 days.

Who will replace Rodri in Man City’s Starting XI?

Without Rodri’s presence in the defensive midfield pivot alongside Bernardo Silva, Guardiola must now decide between Mateo Kovacic, Tijjani Reijnders, or the impressive Nico González – who had stood in for Rodri to a high level earlier this season.

With Ruben Dias also ruled out of the Burnley clash, the onus falls on the remaining leaders within the squad to maintain the momentum and claim three points that would put them firmly in the driving seat for England’s biggest trophy.