If anyone had seen a lengthy layoff coming, it might have been Rodri himself. Just days before going down with his knee injury against Arsenal, the midfielder had mooted that players could go on strike due to the increasingly claustrophobic calendar.
Over the past two seasons, Rodri played 131 matches for club and country. Arguments about rotation may be put forward and perhaps he has fallen victim to his irreplaceable status but there simply should not be that number of games to play.
And that’s before the expanded formats of the Champions League and Club World Cup that have come into effect this season. ALSO READ: 'We're going to win the league' - Man City players convinced after seeing what Arsenal did at Etihad ALSO READ: I saw what Arsenal staff really thought about Man City as they left the Etihad Whether Rodri is indeed out for the season or a number of months, Pep Guardiola has been handed a problem he may have foreseen.
The Manchester City manager has always kept a tight squad but has increased his pool of players from last year by two to 24 with more games on the schedule.