Rodri’s Injury Update
In a concerning update for Manchester City, midfielder Rodri’s recovery from injury will not allow him to return to peak form until after the upcoming international break in September, as confirmed by manager Pep Guardiola. The talented Spanish player endured a challenging last season, having spent a significant duration sidelined due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). He made a comeback late in the previous campaign only to face new concerns after reportedly injuring his groin during City’s recent exit from the Club World Cup against Al-Hilal.
Manager’s Comments
Guardiola shared, “Rodri is improving, but his last match against Al-Hilal was quite tough on him and he has been dealing with this issue for around five or six weeks now. He is currently training with us and has shown progress in the past few days. We’re hopeful that after the international break, he will be fully fit. While it would be great for him to participate in some games before then, our priority is to ensure he is pain-free upon his return. We must prevent further injury setbacks.”
Status of Other Key Players
The coach’s comments further clarified the status of other key players: Phil Foden and Mateo Kovacic, who recently underwent surgery for an Achilles injury, were also excluded from the squad for the Anglo Palermitan Trophy match against Palermo in Sicily. On their availability for the Premier League opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Guardiola was cautious.
He stated, “I don’t foresee Rodri playing the full 90 minutes this weekend. As for Phil, it hinges on his recovery, but there’s a long week ahead. Kovacic, however, is definitely out until at least September or October, with hopes for an earlier return.”