Rodrigo, Manuel Akanji and Phil Foden are the nominees for March’s Etihad Player of the Month award.

It was another intense month for Pep Guardiola‘s side, with City recording three wins and two draws from our five matches across all competitions.

We scored nine goals as we secured our passage through to the FA Cup semi-finals, stepped up our chase for a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title and progressed through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Find out more about the nominees and cast your vote below...

RODRIGO

City’s Spanish star demonstrated to the fore across an intense and demanding series of March fixtures just why he is deservedly regarded as the game’s finest holding midfielder.

Time and again, the 27-year-old’s ability to both dictate as well as read the game, snuff out the first hint of danger and create havoc and panic in the opposition box was illustrated in thrilling fashion.

In the league, he began the month with a dominant, dynamic display in our superb 3-1 derby win over Manchester United, and capped his performance by providing assists for Phil Foden’s second goal and Erling Haaland’s late finish which rounded off a memorable afternoon.

He was then equally calm and assured amidst the maelstrom of an intense trip to Anfield where his efforts helped the reigning champions secure a 1-1 draw against Liverpool.

And Rodrigo was at his imperious, intense best once again last weekend in what proved a hard-fought and tense goalless draw at home to then leaders Arsenal.

Meanwhile, in both our 3-1 Champions League last-16 second leg victory at home to FC Copenhagen, where his first header smacked against the bar leading to Julian Alvarez‘s goal, and 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final Etihad success against Newcastle, Rodrigo’s qualities shone through in crystal clear fashion once more.

MANUEL AKANJI 

City’s Swiss defender was class and composure personified during what was another busy, demanding month for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Ever since arriving at the Club from Borussia Dortmund in September, 2022, Akanji has proved a vital component in the City squad with his versatility, in-game intelligence allied to his talent and technique regularly catching the eye. 

And those qualities were perfectly encapsulated across a series of intense, high-profile games in March.

That 3-1 Champions League last 16 second leg win at home to FC Copenhagen also highlighted the threat Manu carries at the opposite end of the field with his superb and instinctive fifth minute strike setting City on the road to victory and serving as a goal befitting of the finest forwards.

It was a display that also saw Akanji nominated for the Champions League player of the week award.

The 28-year-old then brought all his experience and big game knowledge to bear at Anfield, helping City earn a 1-1 draw against fellow title contenders Liverpool.

Akanji produced an equally astute and assured performance in that FA Cup win over Newcastle before closing the month with another eye-catching display in last Sunday’s goalless draw at home to Arsenal where his ability to venture further forward into midfield was also illustrated to great effect once more.

PHIL FODEN

Our Academy graduate continues to go from strength to strength in what is shaping up to be the best season yet of his stellar City career.

Winner of the Player of the Month awards in both December and February, Foden was once again at his mesmeric, influential best across March.

He began it with a bravura individual display in that 3-1 Premier League derby triumph over Manchester United, a game that always serves to inspire Foden.

A bewitching, beguiling man of the match performance was encapsulated by two brilliant second half goals which inspired City to a deserved victory and again highlighted the qualities that mark him out as one of the finest English talents.

After another impressive all-round display in a hard-fought 1-1 draw away at league leaders Liverpool, Foden then took the man of the match plaudits once more in our 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory at home to Newcastle.

And he rounded March off with another industrious, all-action performance as City and then leaders Arsenal fought out a goalless draw at the Etihad last weekend.

It was all further evidence, if any were needed, that the 23-year-old continues to go from strength to strength.

Three compelling contenders – who will you vote for?