Pep Guardiola Addresses Rodri’s Injury
Pep Guardiola addressed the media concerning midfielder Rodri’s absence during Manchester City’s impressive 5-1 victory over Burnley, revealing that the player is currently experiencing significant pain in his knee. The 2024 Ballon d’Or recipient has faced a rocky recovery from an ACL injury sustained during a match against Arsenal in September 2024, which sidelined him for the bulk of the season.
Rodri’s Struggles with Injuries
Following this setback, Rodri further struggled with injuries, missing key games including City’s 4-0 Premier League opener against Wolves and participating for only a brief 15 minutes in the 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur.
After a brief period where he showed signs of regaining his fitness by starting three consecutive matches against Manchester United, Napoli, and Arsenal, it was anticipated that he would be back in the squad. However, Guardiola confirmed Rodri’s absence from the Burnley match due to renewed knee pain.
Guardiola’s Comments on Rodri
In his remarks, Guardiola relayed Rodri’s own words, saying, “He trained but told me, ‘I have a lot of pain in my knee. I cannot play.’ I replied, ‘If you cannot play, you cannot play.'”
Impact on the Team
In Rodri’s absence, Nico González filled his role in the starting lineup, contributing to the team’s rise to seventh place in the Premier League, bolstered by two own goals from Maxime Estève and additional strikes from Erling Haaland and Matheus Nunes. Rico Lewis had taken on the defensive midfield responsibilities in the previous round of the Carabao Cup, where City triumphed over Huddersfield.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, City is set to face Monaco in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, but Guardiola remained uncertain about Rodri’s possibility of participating, stating,
“I don’t know yet, I don’t know [about Rodri’s fitness].”
