Pep Guardiola tired of being asked how to replace the 'irreplaceable' Rodri

How do oneself switch nan irreplaceable?

Pep Guardiola is already tired of that question.

The Manchester City head began his quest to find nan solution to nan season-long absence of influential cardinal midfielder Rodri successful nan 1-1 draw astatine Newcastle successful nan English Premier League connected Saturday.

It was nan first convention crippled since Rodri was ruled retired till adjacent play because of ACL damage and Guardiola fielded Rico Lewis — a afloat backmost playing retired of position — and Mateo Kovacic successful cardinal midfield astatine St. James' Park, alongside Bernardo Silva coming disconnected nan appendage to thief retired successful nan mediate precocious successful nan game.

All 3 performed well, according to Guardiola, but they won't beryllium capable to replicate Rodri, nan Spain world that person is simply a contender to win nan Ballon d'Or for 2024 adjacent month.

"Guys, I’m going to show oneself — I cognize you’re going to inquire maine each nan long — of people you’re going to miss Rodri, his physicality, his presence. I know," said Guardiola, that person described his chap Spaniard arsenic "irreplaceable" this week.

"But he’s not there. So I’m judging Kovacic and Rico and Bernardo after, and nan wingers alongside Jack (Grealish) and really ourselves person played. And it was exceptional, truthful it’s simple."

Guardiola is secondhand to innovating his tactics, and he has a occupation connected his hands successful nan coming months to devise a scheme to screen for Rodri, that person is truthful important successful conducting City's attacking play and protecting nan defense.

Ilkay Gundogan is different action arsenic nan holding midfielder, during Kevin De Bruyne tin besides play deeper, though he is retired injured astatine nan infinitesimal on alongside winger Oscar Bobb and defender Nathan Ake.

"I could emotion Rodri to beryllium present and Oscar Bobb beryllium present and Kevin beryllium present and Ake beryllium here. I could emotion it," Guardiola said. "But it is that it is."

Reporting by The Associated Press.