Man City star ruled out of Newcastle clash while Guardiola declares ‘the real season starts now’ | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says Rodri is still not ready to return to the Manchester City squad.

The Spaniard suffered another injury setback before the international break and is continuing to recover.

“Everybody’s fit except Kovacic and Rodri,” Guardiola said.

“Rodri is making good steps. It’s almost three weeks since his last step back. He knows he has to take real time to recover well mentally and physically from the problems that he had to be consistent from now (until the end of the season).”

City take on Newcastle on Saturday looking to keep pace with Arsenal at the top of the league, who are currently four points clear in first.

“The truth is a team as strong as Arsenal in the last season, they have been impeccable in many things,” he said on City’s rivals.

“The feeling that I have had in the past where we have fought incredibly against Liverpool, I have had the feeling that they will not drop many points and if they can take a lot of distance it will be difficult to catch up with them.

“When the distance is too big it is more difficult but at the same time we are in November and in November, in this league, nothing is defined. 

“What happens in February, March? Be careful. But now is the start of the season. 

“Now, the international break is done, we have games every three or four days and the real season starts now. The important thing is to be there and to be close and after that, arrive at the end of the season with a chance that we can fight it. 

“Winning tomorrow would be an important step for us.”