Pep Guardiola confirms major Man City injury blow | OneFootball

Man City Facing Injury Concerns as Guardiola Awaits Rodri and Khusanov Returns

Manchester City’s nine-match unbeaten run came to a frustrating halt on Sunday as they fell 1-0 to Aston Villa at Villa Park. Matty Cash’s 19th-minute strike proved decisive, with Pep Guardiola’s side unable to find an equaliser despite dominating possession and chances. Erling Haaland endured a rare off day in front of goal, compounding a disappointing afternoon for the Premier League champions.

Injury Setbacks Continue for Guardiola’s Squad

While the result was a setback, the focus quickly shifted to fitness concerns ahead of City’s upcoming Carabao Cup tie away at Swansea City. Guardiola has had to navigate a difficult period marked by injuries to several key players, most notably Rodri and Abdukodir Khusanov.

The positive news is that Nico Gonzalez has recovered from a minor knock, coming off the bench against Villa to mark his return. However, the absence of Rodri, a vital cog in Guardiola’s midfield machine, continues to pose a significant problem.

Rodri’s Recovery Timeline Remains Unclear

Rodri has been sidelined since suffering an issue after just 22 minutes against Brentford in Manchester City’s final fixture before the October international break. The Spaniard subsequently missed Spain’s World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria, as well as City’s clashes with Everton, Villarreal and Aston Villa.

Speaking before the trip to Villa Park, Guardiola explained that his midfield general was not ready to return.

“The guys who were not able [to play] against Villareal are still not ready,” the Spaniard said.

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City’s medical staff are adopting a cautious approach, wary of aggravating the problem given Rodri’s heavy workload in recent seasons. His presence has long been synonymous with control and stability in midfield, attributes City have noticeably lacked in recent outings. With no firm return date confirmed, Guardiola may have to continue rotating his midfield options in the short term.

Khusanov Edging Closer but Still Sidelined

Abdukodir Khusanov’s situation mirrors that of his teammate. The Uzbekistan international has been out since being forced off at half-time in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal last month. Initially expected to miss three games, the 21-year-old has now sat out seven in a row.

Guardiola remains optimistic but is unwilling to take risks with the young defender’s recovery.

“I think he’s close but he’s still not ready from having an injury in a dangerous, dangerous position in his body,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.

As City prepare for a demanding fixture schedule across multiple competitions, managing the fitness of players like Rodri and Khusanov will be key. Both are integral to Guardiola’s system, offering composure, tactical intelligence and balance on the pitch.

City fans will hope their manager’s patience pays off, as their depth and discipline will be tested in the weeks ahead.