"'IRREPLACEABLE' RODRI WILL NOT BE MISSED: PEP

Injury to midfielder a 'big blow' but City boss insists, as a team, they will overcome the loss

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he had the responsibility to find a way of coping without key midfielder Rodri, who could miss the rest of the season due to a serious knee injury.

The Spaniard limped off during City's 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the English Premier League on Sept 22 with a suspected anterior cruciate ligament tear in his right knee.

"Rodri will be out for a long time, a while," Guardiola said, after City's 2-1 win over Watford in the League Cup third round on Sept 24.

"There are some opinions that it will be less than we expect but, unfortunately, he was injured and right now we're waiting for the final phone calls from him and the doctors to know exactly what he has and the type of surgery he has to get."

Guardiola accepted the absence is a huge blow, but believes a City side who have won a record four consecutive Premier League titles can remain competitive.

"We will have a good season, I trust a lot in my players. I have the duty to find a solution," he added.