Pep Guardiola grew to become pissed off by repeated questions on Rodri after Man Metropolis’s 1-1 draw at Newcastle, insisting his aspect’s efficiency with out the injured midfield ace was “exceptional”.
A day after revealing Rodri could be out for all the season with a cruciate ligament damage in his knee, Guardiola noticed his Metropolis aspect drop factors at St James’ Park, with Anthony Gordon’s penalty levelling the match following Josko Gvardiol’s opener.
Nevertheless, Guardiola praised Mateo Kovacic and Rico Lewis, who performed in central midfield in Rodri’s absence, in addition to Bernardo Silva, who moved into the function later within the recreation.
“Guys I’m going to tell you, I know you’re going to ask me all the time: of course we’re going to miss Rodri,” stated Guardiola after a number of questions concerning the Spain midfielder throughout the post-match press convention.
“Physicality, his presence… I do know it however he is not right here. I am judging Kovacic and Rico and Bernardo, how we now have performed. That was distinctive. I do know if we do not do nicely it is due to Rodri [not being there]. I’ve to discover a resolution. We’ll discover a resolution.
“I would love Rodri to be here. But it is what it is. We had the chances to score, we should score. And in their stadium they can score. Apart from that I’m satisfied.”
Through the first half it appeared Erling Haaland could be the newest Man Metropolis participant struck down with damage. The striker was seen limping after a problem from Dan Burn noticed the Newcastle defender’s studs minimize Haaland’s ankle. Nevertheless, Haaland was in a position to play all the 90 minutes.
“He has some knocks here but we will see in the next days [how he is],” stated Guardiola afterwards.
The Metropolis boss can also be with out one other key man Kevin De Bruyne, whereas Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake are additionally sidelined.
Evaluation: How did Metropolis cope with out Rodri?
Sky Sports activities’ Peter Smith:
In Man Metropolis’s first Premier League recreation since Rodri’s season-ending damage in opposition to Arsenal, there was intrigue into how Pep Guardiola would arrange his aspect. The Spaniard was modern as ever, with Manuel Akanji stepping out of defence to play alongside Mateo Kovacic when Metropolis had the ball. Rico Lewis pushed as much as play alongside Ilkay Gundogan and kind a field midfield.
Man Metropolis’s common positions graphic exhibits how Akanji (25) stepped into midfield alongside Kovacic (8), whereas Lewis (82) pushed ahead with Gundogan (19)
Off the ball, there could have been disappointment Newcastle had been in a position to play Anthony Gordon by to win the penalty on that one event within the second half but it surely was across the opposition field the place Rodri’s absence – and the extra blow of being with out Kevin De Bruyne – was most keenly felt on Saturday. Metropolis struggled to select a approach by Newcastle’s deep defence.
Kovacic topped the touches rely – as Rodri so usually does – and led the best way for final-third passes, finishing 93.3 per cent of these. On the left, Jack Grealish created 5 possibilities, together with his help for Josko Gvardiol. However Metropolis did not play with the pace or swiftness in that space of that pitch required to carve out sufficient vital openings to seize a winner. There was a spark lacking.
Metropolis recorded only one huge probability created and an xG whole of 0.87 – Metropolis’s second-lowest tally of the season.
The absence of Rodri and De Bruyne was felt.
