Rodri‘s Return Not Enough as Manchester City Fall to Brighton
Brighton, England – Manchester City suffered their second defeat of the young Premier League season, falling 2-1 to a resilient brighton & Hove Albion side on Sunday. The match marked Rodri’s first start of the season following a frustrating injury spell, but the Spanish midfielder was quick to dismiss any notion that his return alone could instantly solve City’s early-season woes.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring for the reigning champions,but a spirited comeback fueled by goals from James Milner and Brajan Gruda secured a deserved victory for Brighton. Despite dominating possession,pep Guardiola’s side struggled to contain Brighton’s risky transitions,with the hosts creating a significantly higher number of scoring opportunities (seven to City’s three).
The loss follows a disappointing defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last week, raising questions about City’s form in the absence of a fully fit Rodri. The midfielder missed a important portion of last season due to an ACL injury and suffered a further setback during the Club World Cup, delaying his return to the starting lineup.
“I’m not Messi,” Rodri told Sky Sports after the match. “I can’t come back and suddenly make the team win every game. It requires a collective effort. When we where winning before, it was becuase of everyone. I need my teammates, and we all need to look at ourselves. This is a team sport.”
Rodri emphasized the need for collective advancement following the international break. While acknowledging the concerns, he remained unfazed by external criticism.
“To be honest,I don’t care what people say. They can think what they want. We just need to work hard and focus on ourselves,and then we can talk again at the end of the season.”
Last season, Rodri’s absence was widely considered a key factor in Manchester City’s inability to challenge for the title, ultimately finishing third in the Premier League. His return is undoubtedly a boost, but the
