At the FIFA Club World Cup, Rodri from Manchester City seemed to have replaced his usual boots with clown shoes. This drastic shift in form was evident during the match at Goodison Park, where the Spaniard appeared a far cry from his usual self. His performance in a crucial 30-second phase led to Everton’s Jack Harrison scoring the game’s initial goal.
Rodri, aged 27, encountered a series of errors that facilitated Everton’s breakthrough in the first half. His loss of possession in midfield set up Everton’s attack, first with a misplaced pass, and then inadvertently assisting Dwight McNeil, who subsequently set up Harrison for a straightforward goal.
Typically a pivotal figure in City’s lineup, Rodri serves as a linchpin between defence and midfield, crucial for their cohesive play. However, in this instance, his interventions proved detrimental, allowing Everton to capitalize and excel.
One observer described this sequence as a “disasterclass from Rodri within 45 seconds,” prompting numerous fans on social media to highlight his costly mistakes, particularly the second blunder.
Paddy Power, on X (formerly Twitter), noted, “City’s performance is faltering while Rodri is on the field. Something isn’t right.”
City had recently drawn 2-2 against Crystal Palace in the Premier League before their FIFA Club World Cup triumph in Jeddah against Urawa Reds and Fluminense, where they secured the title without conceding any goals. However, their streak was disrupted at Goodison Park, where Everton’s Harrison shocked the reigning English champions.
Rodri wasn’t the sole City player underperforming during a challenging first 45 minutes at Goodison. Still, his errors had the most significant impact on the team.
Despite this setback, City managed to regain control of the game. Phil Foden equalized early in the second half, followed by Julian Alvarez putting them in the lead from the penalty spot after Amadou Onana’s handball in the box around the hour mark.
Manchester City performance and stats
Manchester City is currently 4th in the Premier League with 37 points.
In the last 18 games, it has won 11 times, drawn 4 times, and lost 3 times. In its last match, Manchester City won 1-3 against Everton.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 43 goals and conceding 21.
Manchester City will play the next match in Premier League against Sheffield United on Saturday 30th of December in Manchester. The prediction is Manchester City winning the match.