John Stones handed apology from Pep Guardiola as fresh Rodri injury concern emerges | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has offered an apology to John Stones after the Englishman failed to make a single appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup for Manchester City.

The Premier League giants saw their pursuit of the Club World Cup title ended by Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, whose squad – guided by former Inter coach Simone Inzaghi – boasts a wide array of talents including Bono, Joao Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Malcom.

Bernardo Silva put City into the perfect start in the game as they went into the half-time interval holding a slender 1-0 lead, only for the game to be flipped on its head inside the first six minutes of the second-half.

Despite goals from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden rescuing City on two further occasions in the remainder of the match and into extra-time, it would be Koulibaly and Marcos Leonardo who would send Al Hilal into the quarter-finals of the competition against Fluminense.

The contest also presented another opportunity for Ballon d’Or winner Rodri to strengthen his own fitness, brought into the action early in the second-half, only for the Spaniard to be replaced by Phil Foden in extra-time.

Now, while speaking to reporters from the Camping World Stadium in Orlando following Manchester City’s 3-4 defeat to Al Hilal, manager Pep Guardiola has revealed a fresh concern around the fitness of the 29-year-old after his latest outing for the club.

“Rodri, apparently was good and after complained a little bit about his situation. So we need time for many players coming back,” Guardiola told a press conference.

The Spain international was thrust into the action once more for City in the second-half of the contest, but was later withdrawn as Phil Foden was added into the attacking thinking during the first portion of extra-time.

Pep Guardiola also commented on the lack of action afforded to John Stones, who failed to make a single appearance for Manchester City throughout their time at the FIFA Club World Cup, despite making significant advances in his own recovery from injury.

“I’m so sorry for John [Stones] not giving him minutes but the game was so demanding,” the Manchester City manager said in reference to the clash with Al Hilal. “I didn’t want [to risk it] after four or five months out.”

The future of the England international centre-back remains in doubt heading towards the new season, with many wondering whether the long-standing defensive star could be deemed surplus to requirements given his uncertain fitness situation over the last two seasons.

Interest in the player has been hard to come by at this stage of the summer transfer window, but while Hugo Viana and co look to sort out the futures of other players including Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker, clubs may begin to come forward to make enquiries.

Manchester City return to action with their first Premier League game of the 2025/25 season as they visit Wolves at Molineux on Saturday 16 August, with no pre-season friendlies anticipated or pencilled in at this stage for Pep Guardiola and his players.