Injury setback? Pep Guardiola issues significant update on Rodri’s fitness | OneFootball

Rodri has not sustained any setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury sustained back in October, Pep Guardiola has clarified.

Manchester City continue to navigate a crucial stretch of their season without their midfield anchor, but the latest update from Guardiola provides reassurance that the Spaniard remains firmly on track in his recovery plan.

Supporters have grown increasingly anxious in recent weeks due to Rodri’s prolonged absence, as the team juggles Premier League pressure and a decisive Champions League showdown with Real Madrid.

His rehabilitation has been handled cautiously, particularly in light of his serious knee injury from 2024, which significantly altered his physical load expectations. Pep Guardiola’s comments come after City’s 3–0 victory over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium – a result that trimmed Arsenal’s lead at the top and reignited confidence within the squad.

Goals from Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol before half-time put City in control against a compact Black Cats defensive structure, while Phil Foden’s late header completed a convincing and composed performance. Yet even in the aftermath of an important league win, discussion quickly turned to Rodri and when the Treble-winning midfielder may finally reappear.

“No,” Guardiola confirmed when asked whether Rodri had suffered some form of setback in his recovery, before he was asked whether his serious knee injury of 2024 remains the reason why he is being held back. “It was a muscular injury against Brentford, in a high tendon muscular hamstring area, and it’s a little bit more careful,” he continued.

“And after what happened, previous ones, with these setbacks we have to take more cautious and have no more prevention, but make a step to be more safe to not do it again. So, it’s simple, but it’s not a step back.

“So, the process, the recovery is doing well and start to make a training session on the pitch already, so hopefully in a few weeks he can start to be with us. When? My friend is desperate to know WHEN, so I will tell you.”

The Manchester City boss was then asked whether club officials and medical staff are waiting for the moment Rodri is ready to start a match before reintegrating him into the matchday fold, as opposed to playing smaller roles in the action.

“Do you know what it means playing without the best player in the world two seasons ago, our main player, when we won the Treble playing 70 games, one year and a half without him?! Do you know what we miss? I want him back NOW, here,” Guardiola responded.

“But he’s suffering, struggling, because he wants to come back and he’s living, but I want to protect him, I want to be sure right now that this – you can be injured, yes – minimises the risk. This is what we want, he wants, I want, and all medical staff is just wanting.

“So tell me, tell me one team, where the best player one year and a half is going there? Tell me, tell me. He’s suffering. So, Rodri’s another level of a player. Another level. [If] Rodri came the last 20 minutes against Fulham, put in the middle, there, there, in the middle, and do you know what is the effect?

“It’s just his presence, don’t touch the ball, the next 10 players [are] safe, better. They play better, even if he doesn’t touch the ball, just for the fact he’s there. And in one year and a half we didn’t have him for that reason. And we try to, you know, because we want him and want him, and that’s why it happened.”

Pep Guardiola continued, “There are players that are irreplaceable, not just how good they play, who create to the other one, you know, because the other one is saying, ‘Oh, I have Rodri there. Give him the ball’.

“He knows when the space is free to break, the switch of players and the other one. It’s unique. But I don’t want him to come back, you know because I want it desperately right now, in Madrid, or next one, next one, and after six more weeks out. No sense!

“So I want to be sure, OK, if now he comes back, he has to make a pre-season. You cannot play 90 minutes, 90 minutes, because he won’t come back again. When you have an injured ACL, your body is completely different. You prove it again. That is the only reason why, but I want him. Absolutely.”

With Pep Guardiola confirming there has been no relapse, the focus now shifts to the timing of Rodri’s reintegration. His return is unlikely to be rushed, especially with City preparing for Real Madrid and with an ongoing demanding winter schedule.

Instead, a phased approach appears the most probable path. In the meantime, City’s midfield structure will continue to adapt, but Guardiola’s emotional description of Rodri’s influence underlines that the club will prioritise long-term stability over short-term gain.

If progress continues as planned, the Spain international could realistically target a return in the coming weeks, though a full 90-minute readiness may take longer. Until then, Guardiola’s squad must continue to cope without one of the most irreplaceable players in world football.