Pep Guardiola reveals Man City player who acts like a ‘father’ protecting teammates

Rodri has been a consistent presence in the middle of the park, and his influence is obvious every time he plays.

When asked why Kalvin Phillips’ time at City has not worked out, Guardiola pointed to the Spanish midfielder’s dominance as a key reason, even referring to him as the “father” of the squad.

Speaking to BeanymanSports, the Catalan coach said: “It’s a good question. Maybe because I didn’t give enough minutes. I don’t know, in that moment, Rodri was fit and in that moment, what can I say? You know, Rodri looks like our father in that time, protecting the other 10 sons.”

What Declan Rice hears from Man City players about Rodri

Rodri has become a fixture in one of Manchester City’s greatest teams, and Pep Guardiola’s words of praise are a fair reflection of his impact.

Phil Foden has also highlighted the importance of the former Ballon d’Or winner to the team, calling him the club’s most crucial player.

Declan Rice echoed these sentiments, describing Rodri as a “monster” and mentioning that City players have told him the team feels noticeably different when he is not on the pitch.

“He is a monster. When you speak to the City lads at England, they say when Rodri doesn’t play they feel the difference themselves. Visibly, you can see that, too,” the Arsenal standout said in March 2024.