Manchester City head coach Josep Guardiola praised the significance of midfielder Rodri for his team after he received the Ballon d'Or.
Guardiola said in an interview with BeanymanSports:
Imagine in any sports, in basketball, Golden State Warriors play without Stephen Curry or Barcelona in their prime play without [Lionel] Messi. So, they should be different. They should be less strong. It’s the same with us. Rodri is irreplaceable, we know it and the players [know it] and we have to move on.
The Spaniard has been with Manchester City since 2019, becoming the first Premier League player in 16 years to receive the award from France Football. During his time with the Citizens, he has won four league titles and a Champions League trophy.