Pep Guardiola issues fitness update on Rodri ahead of Liverpool clash | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a fitness update on Rodri ahead of the weekend’s clash with Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.

The Spaniard has long been a crucial component of Pep Guardiola’s operation at Manchester City in the club’s most successful period ever, however last season’s serious knee injury has brought an abrupt halt to his unstoppable progress on the pitch.

Having missed the majority of the last campaign as a direct result of the problem sustained against Arsenal and follow-up surgery, Rodri was integrated back into action towards the end of the season and over the summer – including at the FIFA Club World Cup.

And while the ongoing domestic campaign began with Rodri in the club’s plans and starting games on a relatively consistent basis – including three matches in a week against Manchester United, Napoli and Arsenal – a muscular issue against Brentford has halted progress again.

Most recently, despite returning to first-team training alongside his Manchester City teammates, Rodri was left out of the side that went on to beat Borussia Dortmund 4-1 in the UEFA Champions League – just days before a high-profile top-flight meeting with Liverpool.

Speaking with reporters during his pre-match press conference from the City Football Academy, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on whether Rodri would be available for selection this weekend at the Etihad Stadium.

“We’ll see tomorrow, but I think we’ll not take a risk,” Guardiola revealed.

The City boss continued, “Now it’s the international break and you have to make the moment, ‘Yeah I feel strong, feel fit’, and can sustain the actions in the game that are so demanding, properly.

“We have to make that step, because still we’re in November – the best part of the season is ahead of us and we need him! Still we’re playing without the Ballon d’Or of two seasons ago, a massively important player.”

While City are happy to be patient with Rodri’s recovery, Pep Guardiola continued, “We’re desperate to have him back, knowing Nico [Gonzalez] right now is becoming a really, really important, good player.”

Previous seasons’ absence of Rodri may have left Manchester City supporters with every right to feel concerned ahead of such a big game, but the recent showings of Nico at the base of midfield have offered every ounce of confidence.

The former FC Barcelona and FC Porto man was signed by Pep Guardiola’s side at the midway stage of last season in a big-money move from the aforementioned Portuguese giants, but largely failed to convince Guardiola of a place for consistent minutes.

Now however, Nico is the player City will be turning towards while they reintegrate Rodri into the fold and look to develop the Spaniard’s fitness over the course of the coming weeks, with a view towards the crucial winter phase of the season.