Manchester City fans can breathe again—Rodri is back. The elegant Spaniard returned to the starting XI for the first time since September and helped orchestrate a 5-2 demolition of Juventus in the Club World Cup. Like a long-lost symphony conductor reunited with his orchestra, Rodri brought rhythm, calm, and a serious dose of football IQ to a City side that had been—let’s be honest—playing like they’d forgotten the sheet music.
We would have been without him, as though we do not get free WIFI on a long train journey. With Rodri, City resembled nothing of the treble-conquering side that struggled through the season in a 13-point deficit to Liverpool. Coincidence? More or less the same as forgetting your umbrella on a rainy day.
Rodri Is Not Just a Player. He’s the city’s insurance policy against chaos.
Let’s crunch some numbers—not the boring kind, we promise. With Rodri, City wins 73.9% of games. Without him? A very un-Guardiola 57.4%. Goals conceded per match drop from 1.1 to 0.8 when he plays. That’s not just a stat line; that’s a love letter from the analytics department.
No wonder Pep Guardiola was grinning wider than a cat in a tuna shop. “One of the best players in the world,” he said, and honestly, understatement of the year.
Rodri’s Comeback: Like Riding a Bike… If the Bike Controlled the Entire Midfield
Despite Pep wanting to keep him on a short leash—just 45 minutes—Rodri asked for extra time at halftime. Because when the game’s in control, Rodri wants to be the control. It was only 66 minutes, but it was long enough to satisfy both new boy Bernardo Silva and fans that the old Rodri swagger is back.
And even at less than full throttle, he did what he always does: made everything look effortless. He’s football’s equivalent of jazz—cool, composed, and two moves ahead.
He Makes City Hum Again
With Rodri back, Manchester City isn’t just better. They’re Manchester City again. Here’s to a midfield masterclass with just the right notes of grit, guile, and Guardiola’s grin.
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