Can a Manchester City midfielder offer more in the Rodri role?
Can a Manchester City midfielder offer more in the Rodri role? It is now clear that Nico is the Rodri back up for Manchester City. Nico’s appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side this season highlight this.
In the first half of this season, when Rodri was injured, Nico was a prominent player for City. In fact, Nico’s performances in the Rodri role are a big reason why Manchester City remain in the hunt for a domestic treble this season. However, once Rodri returned to full fitness, Nico has been on the periphery of the City squad.
His starts have either come in cup games or when Rodri has been unavailable. That isn’t a surprise given how good a player Rodri is. Having said all of that, you do wonder if Nico could offer more in the Rodri role?
Recent comments from Pep Guardiola suggest this is what Nico needs to do to take his game to the next level. What is clear is that Nico has the tools to do exactly that as a player. Pep Guardiola wants to see Nico believe in himself more.
Nico was the hero when Manchester City booked their place in this season’s FA Cup final with a 2-1 win over Southampton at Wembley . Nico’s thunderbolt from 30 yards out in the 87th minute decided the match. The goal Nico scored was a fine reward for a player who has made a more than solid contribution for City this season.