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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Richard Jolly

Who needs Rodri? Mateo Kovacic fills the void to dispel Manchester City’s worst fear

Mateo Kovacic Kova Manchester City Manchester Chelsea Croatia Guardiola Chelsea
AFP via Getty Images

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So much for one of the immutable laws of football. Teams with Rodri in them didn’t lose. Teams deprived of Rodri tended to lose. He was the Spanish superman, the personal guarantee of success; not so much a lucky omen as a relentless talisman. And then Rodri went off at half-time in the final of Euro 2024 with the game goalless, his replacement Martin Zubimendi played better and Spain won. Then Manchester City prevailed in the Community Shield with a midfield trio that contained the rookies Nico O’Reilly and James McAtee.

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