Manchester City’s Premier League title success was undoubtedly a triumph for the team collectively, but in the course of the season, a pair of fast-improving unsung heroes broke through and clearly made their presence felt in 2021/22.
Rodri and Joao Cancelo certainly looked really at ease and most comfortable with Pep Guardiola’s stringent tactical demands and even cranked things up a gear to consistently deliver outstanding performances. The duo combined their strengths off the ball and helped to protect a goalkeeper who was forced into only 62 saves in the entire campaign, 20 fewer than nearest rivals Liverpool.
Dangerous also in attack, the pair amassed 17 goals and assists between them, compared to nine the previous season.
Rodri was the Premier League’s midfield linchpin and best defensive midfielder in 2021/22, providing a solid platform at the base of midfield as he glided like an Olympic ice-skater around the pitch, breaking up play better than anyone else and making 17 recoveries per 1,000 opposition touches, far more than anybody else.
The midfielder was also an indispensable asset when in possession of the ball, invariably never failing to find a team-mate with 91.8 per cent of his passes, effectively and effortlessly feeding the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden. Little surprise then that he topped the list for the most successful passes inside the opposition half.
The yang on the other side of the yin, Cancelo – never failing to provide excellent support for attacks as an inverted full-back – made the second-highest number of passes.
City’s average share of possession rose from 63 per cent to 68 per cent this term and their ability to shift the ball early ensured their monopoly of it did not feel laborious.
Rodri amassed seven league goals this season – including four from outside the box – as he thundered home long-range shots against Everton and Watford, and, as if demonstrating his other sublime skills, he clinically passed the ball into the bottom corner against Arsenal. Against Aston Villa, he again played a key role in the dramatic turnaround that won City the title on the final day.
Proving himself also to be an aerial threat, the 25-year-old headed in two excellent goals from set-pieces, besides scrambling home a precious winner in the final moments of the 2-1 win at Arsenal, which proved to be vital.
Be it defensively, creatively and also in the final third – Rodri provided the excellence that was required in every aspect of City’s play this season. Besides being brilliantly versatile, the Portugal international was also extraordinarily impressive throughout this title-winning season as the full-back gamely produced one goal and seven assists, and could have scored even more had luck been on his side.
Tactically, Cancelo isideal for City’s style of play as he offers creativity from both flanks, while being also one of the best tacklers around.
Ending the campaign with the joint-most shots from outside the box in the league, alongside Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, the 27-year-old is equally strong as a left or right-back in City’s 4-3-3 formation and is equally happy to slide seamlessly into central midfield to link attacks.
Cancelo’s adaptability proved invaluable this campaign with Kyle Walker missing numerous matches through injury.
Rodri and Cancelo are obviously not unknowns as they had long since earned their reputations as being among the best in the Etihad squad.
It’s only that this season both men raised their levels a clear notch to become indispensable members of the title-winning squad.