Rodri

Key strength: Ball retention

Deep-lying playmaker

At 2nd place in the Premier League, Manchester City's pursuit of a fifth consecutive title has been derailed by the absence of their most irreplaceable midfielder. Rodri, the £90 million defensive metronome, has managed just 19 appearances this season totaling 1,090 minutes—a shadow of his usual dominance. With only 1 goal and no assists from limited playing time, the statistics belie his true importance. The 29-year-old Spaniard remains City's architect-in-chief, orchestrating play from deep with his world-class defensive work (91) and passing precision (88). Alongside teammates Josko Gvardiol and Rúben Dias, Rodri forms the bedrock of City's defensive solidity, breaking up attacks and launching transitions with surgical one-touch passing. His jersey number 16 represents the missing link between City's defense and Erling Haaland's goalscoring machine. As Pep Guardiola struggles to find solutions in turbulent waters, Rodri's return represents the most impactful 'signing' City could make. The Citizens await their midfield maestro to restore order to the Etihad.