Rodri giving midfield more solid platform

RODRI'S value at Manchester City went up even further last season when the team fell apart without him.

- By SIMON BAJKOWSKI

Manchester City midfielder Rodri reacts during the Premier League draw with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday

(Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Somehow, and inexplicably, it has gone up again after they recovered to learn how to challenge for the Premier League title without him.

It is grossly unfair on Nico Gonzalez, who found his feet in September and has spearheaded City’s charge in the Premier League and Champions League. The Spaniard, asked to play a role that isn’t his most natural, found his groove and became one of City’s most important players; as Pep Guardiola said recently, they could not have achieved what they have in the last months without him.