Pep Guardiola confirms Rodri and Rayan Cherki availability for AS Monaco clash | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a fitness update on his side ahead of their trip to face AS Monaco in the UEFA Champions League group-stage on Wednesday evening.

City returned to winning ways in the Premier League on Saturday with a stylish 5-1 win over Burnley as Erling Haaland maintained his fine start to the season and notched his eighth and ninth goals of the 2025-26 campaign.

Rodri was excluded from Manchester City’s matchday squad against Burnley after complaining of pain in the knee on which the 29-year-old Ballon d’Or winner underwent surgery 12 months ago after rupturing his ACL, which only saw him return to action in May.

Rayan Cherki, who joined City from Lyon this summer, has also been on the sidelines of late after suffering a thigh injury in the days leading to Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton prior to the September international break.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League group-stage clash away at AS Monaco, Guardiola confirmed that Rodri has returned to full fitness and is ready for selection on Wednesday evening.

On Rodri, Guardiola said: “Right now, my feeling, he is not able to play three games a week at a top, top, top level, top intensity, demanding of the opponents. My feeling, right now, he’s not ready. Because he needs time.”

The Catalan added that Cherki – who returned to Manchester City training in the last few days – will not be able to prove his fitness in time for the group-stage tie amid concerns in the camp over a possible recurrence of the issue should the 22-year-old be rushed back to action.

Cherki has also been ruled out of Manchester City’s weekend Premier League clash with Brentford by Guardiola, who is adamant against risking the attacking midfielder so soon after his return to full fitness in the early stages of a long season.

“It’s so risky because next time it’s surgery, next time it’s four or five months,” Guardiola said on Cherki.

“And I don’t want to take a risk in that game on Sunday (against Brentford). After we have two weeks to fully recover by training alone, with the EDS, with the team, and he (Cherki) will be ready.

“Rayan Cherki has a special quality in a tight game, in the final third, with his vision and pass which is difficult to find. That is why it’s important for him to come back and not make a step back.”

Guardiola went on to provide a wider update on the fitness of the Manchester City squad as the Blues look to build on their post-international break momentum in the weeks and months that follow.

“Hopefully after Brentford we will have many players back – (Rayan) Cherki will be back, (Rayan) Ait-Nouri will be back, (Abdukodir) Khusanov will be back, hopefully Omar (Marmoush) will be back,” the Manchester City boss added.

“Many players will be back and we’ll be able to handle every three days competition. We will be top.”

Should Rodri not be deemed fit to start against AS Monaco on Wednesday, Nico Gonzalez is likely to retain his spot in the defensive midfield position behind Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders, with Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku expected to start alongside Erling Haaland in attack amidst the continued absence of Cherki.