Pep Guardiola Reveals Why NO Rodri in Man City vs Brentford Clash?

Ahead of the highly anticipated Carabao Cup quarter-final against Brentford at the Etihard, Manchester City fans might be wondering, “Is Rodri playing today?” Indeed, boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed that the holding midfield pivot will not feature for the Sky Blues in the next game. The fact that the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is not participating is a heavy blow for the Cityzens, who are now trying to qualify for the semi-finals.

The Reason behind Rodri's absence

For those wondering, "Is Rodri playing for Man City today?" the answer is a firm no. Rodri is currently recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during a previous encounter with Brentford back in October.

While the midfielder has returned to training on the pitch, Pep Guardiola is taking a cautious approach. Having seen Rodri suffer setbacks following his lengthy ACL recovery earlier in the year, the medical staff is prioritising long-term fitness over immediate return. While referring to the other injured players, the Spaniard confirmed that Rodri is out for this fixture.

Who Else is Missing for Man City?

Rodri is not the only player missing out on the action, though, with Guardiola facing an ever-growing injury list and players missing out for international duty. The Cityzens are left missing Jeremy Doku through leg trouble and fellow midfielder John Stones, who is struggling with a problem in his thigh, not to mention the ongoing absence of Mateo Kovacic, whose ankle is calcified. To add to that, both Omar Marmoush and Rayan Aït-Nouri have left for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

What to Expect: Man City vs Brentford

With the start of the match imminent at the Etihad, the question on everyone’s lips has been and still is, “Is Rodri playing today or not?” With the Spanish midfielder ruled out, the job for Pep Guardiola is to strike a good mix between a heavily rotated squad and a dangerous opposition outfit. Manchester City will have to rely on youngsters such as Nico O’Reilly to perform well, although Guardiola has vowed to start their “father figure.”

In goal, James Trafford is given a rare opportunity ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma. He faces the tough challenge of blocking Igor Thiago's goal attempts, who has scored 12 goals already this season for Brentford.

Brentford, with Keith Andrews at the helm, plans on taking advantage of City's rotation-heavy side by relying on their league-leading set piece attacks as well as swift transition play. Without Rodri's defensive solidity, City might find it difficult to handle Brentford's direct play. To answer those still wondering “is Rodri playing for Man City today?” – absolutely not, making way for a quarter-final showdown between City and Brentford in which City's depth is set to be tested.