Rodri’s injury: Peter Crouch and Joe Cole express confidence that Manchester City and Pep Guardiola will manage to cope with the midfielder’s absence.

**Guardiola Confident Despite Rodri’s Injury Setback**

In a significant blow to Manchester City, star midfielder Rodri is set to be sidelined for an extended period following a serious knee injury sustained just moments into last weekend’s draw against title rivals Arsenal. The Spanish international, who has been pivotal to City’s success since his arrival from Atletico Madrid in 2019, is currently second favorite behind Vinicius Junior for the prestigious Ballon d’Or.

Despite the severity of Rodri’s injury, former players Joe Cole and Peter Crouch remain optimistic about City’s ability to cope without their key man. Crouch, speaking to TNT Sports, expressed confidence in the squad’s depth, stating, “I think City have got enough about them to cope without Rodri. The stats tell us that with Rodri they’re far better with him than without him. He’s a real key player for them, but if anyone has the ability to cope, I think they do.”

Cole echoed Crouch’s sentiments, suggesting that manager Pep Guardiola could adapt his tactics to mitigate the impact of Rodri’s absence. “Losing Rodri is going to affect you because he’s so effective,” Cole remarked. “He’s arguably been the most important player in the last couple of years at Man City. It’s a real blow, but Pep Guardiola will find a solution.”

With the transfer window now closed, City are unable to bring in a replacement until January. However, Cole believes that financial constraints and the ongoing Premier League investigation may limit their options. “I don’t think they need to go out and replace him,” he said. “I don’t think they’re capable of going out and buying a replacement, with what’s going on with the financial situation. There’s more than enough quality in that squad.”

Cole pointed to potential alternatives within the squad, suggesting that Guardiola could deploy John Stones or Rico Lewis in a midfield role, or even shift to a double holding midfielder formation to bolster the midfield. “He might go to a double holding midfielder just to solidify down there. They’ll be fine,” he added.

As City prepare for their upcoming clash against Newcastle, Guardiola has confirmed that Rodri will be out for “a long time.” The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 11:00 UK time on Saturday, September 28, ahead of the 12:30 kick-off.

For fans looking to catch the action, TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a comprehensive line-up of channels. To find local establishments showing the match, supporters can use the Pub Finder tool.