Guardiola eager to see Reijnders in the Man City midfield, with the player expressing readiness to join wherever needed
Tijjani Reijnders Shines in Manchester City's Midfield Amid Rodri's Injury
Tijjani Reijnders, the £46.5m signing from AC Milan, has made an impressive start to his Manchester City career, filling the void left by Rodri's injury.
Reijnders, who joined City in the summer of 2025, has shown versatility under Pep Guardiola, playing a crucial role in the midfield. His adaptability allows him to operate as a deep-lying playmaker, a box-to-box midfielder, or even in more advanced positions.
In his Premier League debut, Reijnders scored a goal and provided an assist in a 4-0 win against Wolverhampton, signaling a strong start to his City career. This promising performance was followed by his first two goals for City in a pre-season friendly against Palermo.
Reijnders' contributions extend beyond his goal-scoring abilities. His ability to balance defensive work with offensive creativity has helped Manchester City maintain control in midfield despite Rodri's injury. In the 2024-25 season, Reijnders scored 15 goals in 54 matches for AC Milan, showcasing his goal-scoring ability from midfield.
Since Rodri's arrival at Manchester City, the team has won 54 of 94 games without him, compared to 195 victories in 265 matches with him. However, Reijnders' immediate influence on the team’s attacking play has been evident in his early appearances for City.
Pep Guardiola is viewed as an ideal manager to help Reijnders further develop his midfield capabilities in a high-caliber squad. Guardiola's focus on ball possession and counter-pressing tactics has been reflected in Reijnders' play, as he highlighted the importance of quick ball recovery after losing possession.
With Kevin De Bruyne's departure, Reijnders' role in City's midfield becomes even more crucial. However, Reijnders has expressed his willingness to play in any position in Manchester City's midfield under Pep Guardiola.
Manchester City are aiming to retain their Premier League crown in the 2025-26 season, and Reijnders' performances so far suggest that he will play a key role in their bid for success.
References: 1. Manchester Evening News 2. Sky Sports 3. ESPN
Tijjani Reijnders' impressive performances in Manchester City's midfield, despite Rodri's injury, indicate a promising future in the Premier League. As he adapts to the European-leagues' pace, his versatility and goal-scoring ability from midfield could be crucial in Manchester City's bid to win the Premier League title again.
