Pep Guardiola Reveals Possible RETURN Date Amid Rodri Injury Woes

Rodri has been one of the important pieces of the puzzle for Manchester City and is one of the indispensable players at the club. His presence in the heart of the midfield provides Man City with a bit of a cushion, where they can freely regulate the flow of the play from the back to their attacking front.

The Spaniard played a crucial part in City's treble-winning season in 2023, followed by an inspiring outing for his nation in the Euros, which earned him the Ballon d'Or in 2024. However, the defensive midfielder has had his fair share of injury concerns in recent times, which has made Pep Guardiola and co. suffer quite frequently now. Here's more on the Rodri Injury Update.

Guardiola Reveals Rodri Injury Situation

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided some information on Rodri injury update. The Manchester City manager has revealed that the Spaniard missed the UCL game against Borussia Dortmund in midweek because the player ‘didn’t feel perfect’. Rodri was even kept out of the all-important clash against Liverpool yesterday, as he is yet to regain 100% match fitness. Before the game, Guardiola said, “I think we won’t take a risk ahead of the international break. We have to find the moment he feels strong and fit to sustain the actions in the game properly. Still, we are in November, and the best of the season is ahead of us, and we need him. We are playing without the Ballon d’Or winner of two seasons ago, and a massively important player for us. Nico is becoming a really good, important player.”

City didn't miss their holding midfielder at all as they thrashed the reigning Premier League champions by three goals at home. However, Rodri's return to the team will definitely make the team more competitive and more well-settled in the middle of the park. The Spaniard had just returned from a hamstring injury and has made just eight appearances so far this season. The last time he featured for City was as a late substitute against Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Rodri's Possible Return Date

As confirmed by Pep Guardiola, Rodri is likely to return to the squad after the international break. It will be interesting to see if the Spaniard is integrated directly into the squad or is used as a substitute.

City will not look to force the player into action and will be extremely careful in managing his workload, as he's still one of the main game-changers for the team. Rodri's inclusion in the Man City Injury List has opened up a place for Nico Gonzalez, who has impressed the Citizens in his recent outings against Dortmund and Liverpool.