Rodri straightforwardly described Manchester City’s decline in performance at the end of 2024 as a ‘critical situation’, but expressed confidence that his teammates would be able to overcome it. The Ballon d’Or winner and scorer of key goals has only appeared in two matches for City this season before sustaining an injury, which will keep him sidelined for the entire campaign. Since he has been absent, City’s performance has declined and they have experienced more injuries, finishing 2024 with only two victories in 14 matches. The Spaniard has observed from a distance, while also attending some home games to support his teammates, and has shared his insights on their recent performance. He described the situation as ‘critical’ but also maintained that the impact of the run will not be ‘significant’ due to the lengthening seasons. “We are facing a critical situation at City,” he told AS. “I constantly emphasize that when there are missing players in key positions, the team experiences the consequences.” We have gone through this in previous years with [Kevin] De Bruyne or other players who have been sidelined for an extended period. This is a moment when the team needs to come together. “I understand that we are going through a tough period, one that may be hard for us to accept and that isn’t making us feel good, but ultimately, this is part of sports.” You need to rise up again. The positive aspect is that there is potential for progress in the remainder of the season. This makes a significant difference.
