Lescott Emphasizes Rodri’s Irreplaceable Impact for Manchester City

Former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott expressed his conviction that Pep Guardiola’s squad is currently lacking the unique “impact” of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. This observation comes as the reigning Premier League champions are experiencing a streak of six matches across all competitions without a victory. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Planet Premier League podcast, Lescott asserted: “There is a difference between being the best player and being the most important player.” He noted that during the previous season, in the absence of Kevin [de Bruyne], Phil [Foden] demonstrated the ability to provide a comparable level of influence, albeit through a distinct approach. However, Lescott conveyed his belief that the team does not possess an individual capable of delivering the same “impact” that Rodri offers, irrespective of their playing style. He further explained that finding a suitable replacement for Rodri’s position represents a more significant void than replacing Kevin. Lescott highlighted that the team has previously played without Kevin, and also when [Erling] Haaland was unavailable, Julian Alvarez stepped in. Nevertheless, he concluded that “when there is no Rodri, I don’t think there is that person there.” Lescott acknowledged that Manchester City still boasts world-class players. He pointed out that the club understands that on any given day, Foden could declare: “‘I’m going to decide this game'” or Haaland could state: “‘I’m going to decide this game’.” He added that possessing such “star power” inherently generates confidence, ensuring the team will not enter every game anticipating defeat, but rather with a conviction that they will win. Ultimately, Lescott remarked that one “would rather have lost the last five games and have the players Manchester City have than not have them at all.”