One Man City star proved why he is ‘the best in his position’ against Sunderland, says Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has insisted one member of his squad not only ‘changed the game’ following his introduction at Sunderland, but also proved why he is ‘the best’ in his position.

Manchester City were left frustrated in front of goal at the Stadium of Light, but there was a clear shift in the flow and control of the contest after the interval, as Guardiola turned to one of his most trusted lieutenants.

The goalless draw ultimately cost City further ground in the Premier League title race with Arsenal in particular, yet the manager’s post-match focus centred firmly on the influence exerted by a returning key figure.

The first half had posed unfamiliar problems for City, with Sunderland’s aggressive pressing and compact shape disrupting their rhythm in central areas. City struggled to progress the ball through midfield, limiting ability to sustain pressure despite long spells of possession.

That dynamic changed markedly after the restart, coinciding with a forced substitution that altered the balance of the contest. With Nico withdrawn through injury, Guardiola introduced Rodri – a move that immediately brought greater calm, structure, and verticality to City’s play.

Speaking with reporters after the contest at the Stadium of Light on Thursday night, Guardiola offered a glowing assessment of Rodri’s 45 minutes on the pitch.

“He changed the game,” Guardiola insisted on the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner. “He proved in 45 minutes in his position, he’s the best.”

The Manchester City manager continued, “When we struggled in the first-half, with Rodri we struggled less. We broke the lines, more fluid, arrived better, moved better. One year and a half without him, we missed him a lot, so hopefully he can stay – he makes us a better team.”

When asked for his assessment on Regis Le Bris’ ever-impressive Sunderland side, Guardiola said, “Top! Really good! A surprise… But we created a lot. I don’t know if [another] team is able to come here and create what we created.”

Rodri’s influence was evident as Manchester City pinned Sunderland back for long stretches of the second half, forcing a series of last-ditch blocks and near-misses, including a Josko Gvardiol effort against the post and repeated pressure inside the penalty area.

While the breakthrough never arrived, Pep Guardiola’s remarks underline just how central the Spaniard remains to Manchester City’s identity.

With City now entering a punishing run of fixtures across domestic and European competitions, Rodri’s reintegration could prove decisive. If he can build fitness quickly and remain available, Guardiola may yet view this draw as a reminder of how pivotal his midfield general remains.