Winning the Ballon d’Or isn’t for everyone, especially if you didn’t win the Champions League last season. He had done it in the previous one, Rodriwith a goal against Inter. He lifted the European Cup as best player, but lost against Real Madrid of Vinicius Jr, Carvajal and Bellingham. A situation that led Los Blancos to abandon the prize, despite the many individual (and team) prizes won. A casus belli with UEFA which however has little to do with what is happening to Guardiola’s City.
Because Rodri’s injury took away the brain of the game from the Skyblues. In three months, since August 10, there have already been four defeats, including three in a row, something that hadn’t happened since April 2018. Furthermore, the Community Shield went to United’s rivals, albeit on penalties: the injury was different (the one in the thigh) but the result. similar.
The match against Sporting could be a wake-up call, not so much for the 4-1 final but for how it happened. After a more than decent first half, which nevertheless ended at 1-1, Guardiola’s team did not have the consistency to hang on to the game, taking a two-to-one and then a three-to-one lead in just a few minutes. It can happen, but it’s clear that Rodri was a sort of balancer between all the attacking midfielders that Guardiola always puts on the field. Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but the risk is that there will be a not so simple year for City.