Manchester City's midfield engine is facing a major question mark ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley. Rodri, the team's pivotal midfield general, has been sidelined for the last five matches due to a groin injury, and his absence from the bench in each of those games has left fans and pundits alike on edge.

After City's commanding 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at the Etihad on Wednesday, manager Pep Guardiola was pressed for an update on Rodri's fitness. His response, as relayed by The Standard, was far from reassuring: "I don't know. I don't know. We'll see in the next days." This uncertainty has become a recurring theme for City ahead of crucial fixtures, and the FA Cup final is no exception.

The midfield battle at Wembley will be decisive, and City are desperate to have their anchor available. Rodri's ability to control the tempo and break up play has been instrumental in their success. However, if he's ruled out, Guardiola has a contingency plan in place. Bernardo Silva has stepped into the role of a pseudo-six in City's last two matches, and the captain has delivered commendable performances. He looks set to take on the responsibility of running City's engine room once again.

Support could come from unexpected sources. Matheus Nunes and Nico O'Reilly, expected to start in the full-back positions, can bring physicality to help Bernardo in midfield. Meanwhile, Phil Foden might also be deployed alongside Bernardo for additional support, especially given that Rico Lewis appears to have fallen out of favor for now.

As the clock ticks down to the Wembley showpiece, all eyes are on Rodri's recovery. If he can't make it, Bernardo Silva will be called upon for another herculean effort—a performance that carries extra weight, as the Portuguese star has just three more games left in a City shirt before the curtain falls on his time at the club. For now, City fans can only hope their midfield general gets the green light, but if not, they know their captain is ready to lead the charge.