Manchester City receive extended Rodri injury blow as Pep Guardiola reveals new return date | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City will be forced to wait a little longer than expected before they can welcome Rodri back from his latest injury.

The Spain international missed Saturday afternoon’s 2-0 victory over Everton at the Etihad Stadium, and despite optimism that he could feature in midweek European action in some quarters, Guardiola has now confirmed the recovery will extend beyond the coming fixtures.

The news will come as a fresh concern for Manchester City fans, particularly given the side’s heavy reliance on the midfielder’s control and composure in the centre of the pitch over the course of recent seasons.

Rodri’s influence on City’s structure has been evident in recent years, with his presence dictating the team’s rhythm both in and out of possession. His absence in key matches last season exposed vulnerabilities in Pep Guardiola’s midfield, forcing the Catalan coach to experiment with systems and personnel.

As Manchester City continue to navigate a packed October schedule, the Spaniard’s recovery timeline will be managed with extreme caution, while Guardiola and his coaching staff will continue to prepare stand-in options – such as Nico Gonzalez – in the best way possible.

Speaking in the aftermath of City’s 2-0 win over Everton, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on whether Rodri would be available to face Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League’s league phase on Tuesday night.

“I don’t think so,” the Manchester City manager revealed. “Aston Villa I don’t think so either,” he continued.

“It’s not long but it’s muscular. We have to be careful,” the 54-year-old added. “We tried many times to prevent another injury but we have not been able to do that so we will see.”

One player who may be called upon to fill in for the Spain international is Mateo Kovacic, who recently made his return to on-field action having undergone surgery on an Achilles injury early in the summer.

“He has a special quality with the ball to keep it but we cannot forget that he has come from surgery and had three or four months injured,” Guardiola said of the versatile Croatian midfielder.

“I don’t want Kovacic for 90 minutes, 90 minutes, 90 minutes. In time, he will get it but I don’t have the feeling that he is ready to play it now,” he continued. “For 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, Kova with Bernie and the older players, they are extraordinary, they are fantastic.”

Rodri’s continued absence could see Pep Guardiola lean more heavily on tactical versatility within his squad or continuing the adaptation process being undertaken by the aforementioned Nico Gonzalez, who has shone in bursts since his big-money move from FC Porto last January.

The likes of John Stones, Rico Lewis, or Nico O’Reilly may be asked to step into hybrid midfield roles – a strategy Pep Guardiola has employed successfully in previous periods of midfield scarcity.

Manchester City’s upcoming fixtures, which include Villarreal and Aston Villa before a Carabao Cup fourth round clash away at Swansea City, will certainly test the team’s depth in defensive midfield.

Pep Guardiola’s careful management of Rodri’s recovery suggests an emphasis on long-term protection over short-term gain, ensuring that his key lieutenant is fully fit for the congested winter calendar and crucial fixtures that follow.