Rodri stats vs West Ham show he was Man City's flawless unsung hero

Erling Haaland stole all the headlines in Manchester City's 2-0 win over West Ham on Sunday.

The Norwegian scored a deadly brace and kickstarted City's Premier League defence with a statement victory, at a stadium that hasn't always been a happy hunting ground in recent years. Despite Haaland's brilliance, one man in particular continued to show why City are in safe hands for years to come.

Towards the end of the game, former Manchester United star-turned-pundit Gary Neville compared Rodri to Sergio Busquets. After letting out a little gasp of excitement, he said: "He's Busquets-like. Not to the level of him, but he's not far off it — he's performing at a really high level."

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It's not the first time Rodri's imperious displays have caught the eye. City supporters were full of praise for their No.16 last season and, after scoring a record seven goals across the campaign, many were baffled by his exclusion from the PFA Team of the Year.

The Spaniard is not one for the limelight, however. It's well known he recently completed a degree in business administration and management alongside playing football, and has thus far never ventured onto social media.

Haaland's arrival may have overshadowed his performance, but the stats don't lie; Rodri was central to making City tick in the centre of midfield. Considering how easily West Ham have bypassed the Blues' defence in the past, the 26-year-old's 100 per cent completion of both take-ons and ground duels was essential in disrupting the Hammers' momentum.

Rodri's 95 passes at a 94 per cent completion rate is an outstanding return, but it's a stat City fans have become so accustomed