A vital midfielder may not be fit for the FA Cup final for Manchester City | OneFootball

Rodri has now missed the past five matches that Manchester City has played due to a groin injury. Manchester City’s midfield general hasn’t even made the City bench in any of those five games. Up next for Pep Guardiola’s side is the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday. As has become almost standard practice ahead of City’s recent matches, Rodri remains in doubt for the FA Cup final due to injury.

Pep Guardiola wasn’t aure if Rodri will be available to play against Chelsea.

After Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 3-0 at the Etihad on Wednesday night, Pep Guardiola was asked if Rodri would be available for the FA Cup final against Chelsea. In quotes relayed by The Standard, Guardiola wasn’t sure if Rodri will be fit for the match against Chelsea. When asked if Rodri would be available, Guardiola said: “I don’t know. I don’t know. We’ll see in the next days.”

Manchester City may turn to their captain to fill Rodri’s shoes once again at Wembley.

Once again, Rodri’s availability for a big match for Manchester City is in question. Pep Guardiola faces the media later today and he may reveal then if Rodri will be fit to play against Chelsea at Wembley. City will be hoping that their midfield general can play against Calum McFarlane’s side as the middle battle will be key at Wembley.

However, if Rodri cannot play at Wembley, it now seems that Bernardo Silva, with help from others, will be tasked with running Manchester City’s engine room. Bernardo Silva has played as a pseudo-six in City’s past two matches. The Manchester City captain has done well in the role, so he looks to be Rodri’s replacement. If, as expected, Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly start in the full-back positions, their physicality will help Bernardo in midfield. Also, Phil Foden could start against Chelsea to support Bernardo. That may prove to be the case given that Rico seems to have fallen out of favor for now.

Rodri’s availability for Saturday’s FA Cup final remains in doubt. It remains to be seen if City’s midfield general can get up for the Wembley showpiece. If he cannot, it does seem that the scene will be set for Bernardo Silva to put in another herculean effort for his team, which is something that we may not see for much longer given that Bernardo only has three more games to play for City before the curtain falls on his Manchester City career.