This week, therefore, brings this train of thought: could Rodri’s absence actually become the reason why Pep Guardiola decides to extend his stay at Etihad Stadium beyond a decade? Unless Guardiola does the unimaginable – or perhaps the imaginable given his remarkable abilities at reinventing a tactical system – and claims every piece of silverware without his Spanish metronome, he will surely want the opportunity to test his side at full strength one final time in the 2025-26 season, and possibly beyond.
