Man City’s midfield issues extent to more than just Rodri - Pep Guardiola needs more from two key players

Pep Guardiola will be pleased to move on from last week, a seven-day period dominated by the buzzwords: war, dark arts, Arteta and ACL.

The Manchester City boss joked with reporters on Tuesday night after the Watford game that he would give them a day off amid the heavy fixture schedule, but by Saturday he already looked exasperated when asked another question about City’s capacity to cope without Rodri.

“I know you are going to ask me all the time,” Guardiola replied. “Of course we are going to miss Rodri, the physicality, the presence. But he is not there.”

Sunday outlined just how difficult it will be to find a solution without City’s no.16, as the champions lacked rhythm and creativity in the 1-1 draw at Newcastle United. Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovacic did an adequate job shielding the back four but couldn’t quite match Rodri’s domineering impact. That two players couldn’t have the same impact underlines the scale of Guardiola’s task.

It wasn’t a bad display by any means, and getting a point at St James’ Park is a commendable result these days, but without Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne this felt like City-lite.

The latter’s absence was compounded by the decision to start Phil Foden on the bench. After a long summer and an illness-plagued start to the new campaign, the England international is still not up and running just yet.

Tuesday marks the start of October and City can’t rely on three of their most dependable players - that’s a problem.

“With Phil in that [attacking midfield] position, he is maybe one of the best. He's so clever,” Guardiola said when asked about Foden after the Newcastle game. “He's been out two month-three months, the best player in the league last season has been out.

“Today I would say he played the best minutes, really good in the assists and dynamic. I'm happy that step by step he is coming back.

“Phil doesn't need time when he's clever and fine. It's not a problem. I know how important he is. There's no doubt about that.”

To further complicate matters, Guardiola admitted post-match that Ilkay Gundogan is not yet at his best.

“[It] will take time. He didn't make a pre-season, he needs to do the rhythm. But he gives you something special. Of course he will take it.”

The German was hooked early in the second half following an underpar display in the North East. Uncharacteristically, Gundogan’s passing was sloppy, his control let him down on a few occasions, and there was little link-up play between the 33-year-old and Erling Haaland.

With Rodri out, City need everyone to step up, especially the more experienced players. But the slow start to the season also raises a wider question about the state of City’s squad in the early weeks of the campaign.

Of the 20 senior outfield players, only five had a full pre-season - one of those (Oscar Bobb) won’t play again before Christmas. Foden, Gundogan and John Stones are far from their optimum levels, while Kyle Walker is only now finding his stride again after a late return.

Following the win over West Ham United on 31 August, Guardiola declared that pre-season was ‘over’. That it occurred after three games of the season is far from ideal and there’s no denying that City haven’t yet found their groove in 2024/25.

It might not concern Guardiola at this stage, especially with the side just a point behind leaders Liverpool, and City’s track record of starting the season slowly only to peak in the spring and hoover up silverware.

But as we enter the third month of the season, there’s no doubt that Guardiola needs his key players to start finding form while he goes about trying to devise a Rodri-less masterplan that can deliver a seventh Premier League title.