If no Rodri then Nico's your man

IT is just over a month since City touched down in Villarreal for their third Champions League game this season, and once again they were having to find a Rodri substitute.

- By SIMON BAJKOWSKI

The Ballon d'Or winner was being honoured with a plaque outside the stadium of his former club and was due to do media commitments, but wasn't fit enough to be included in the matchday squad.

Step forward Nico Gonzalez, who was still looking to show he could be a leading man for City. Gonzalez had watched Rodri star in the 2-0 win over Napoli to kickstart their European campaign, with the talk then of how good Rodri looked starting his second game in five days.