Guardiola misjudged! Rodgers has scored 5 goals in 16 matches, exceeding his expected goals by +3.12, the highest in the Premier League during the same period.

Pep Guardiola is a world-class coach who has nurtured stars like Foden, yet Manchester City's strong youth academy has still seen many promising talents slip through the cracks. Take the Premier League’s two “cold kings,” Chelsea’s key attacker Palmer and Aston Villa’s attacking leader Rodgers—both former City academy mates with outstanding shooting abilities, originally poised to replace the departing De Bruyne and Gundogan. Unfortunately, Guardiola misjudged, and the high-profile signing Reinders turned out to be technically lacking.

This Premier League season, Aston Villa started poorly, failing to win in their first five matches and sinking into the relegation zone. However, they then surged with 10 wins in 11 games, amassing 30 points and currently sitting third in the league, just 3 points behind leaders Arsenal. Competing on both Premier League and Europa League fronts, manager Emery has shown great skill, along with the “cold king” Rodgers who possesses extraordinary shooting talent.

According to statistics, 23-year-old Rodgers has played all 16 Premier League matches this season, contributing 5 goals and 3 assists. His actual goal tally surpasses his expected goals by +3.12, the highest in the league for this period. Simply put, Rodgers has exquisite shooting skills, especially with long-range shots, turning nearly every opportunity into a goal.

Manchester City signed Rodgers from the youth ranks for €4.4 million, then sold him at a reduced price of €1.2 million. Now, Rodgers’ market value on Transfermarkt has soared to €70 million. If Rodgers had replaced Reinders, City's attacking strength and ability to break down dense defenses might have been greatly enhanced. It’s clear Guardiola misjudged, leading both “cold kings” and close friends to leave Manchester City.