Pep Guardiola speaks on Man City star Rodri’s chances of playing at 2026 World Cup | OneFootball

Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has this week spoken out on the chances of Rodri featuring at next summer’s World Cup.

This comes fresh off the Spanish tactician setting alarm bells sounding with an update on the wellbeing of the former Ballon d’Or winner.

Speaking to the media after Rodri missed Manchester City’s Premier League meeting with Burnley last weekend, Guardiola admitted:

“In training [before the match], Rodri told me: ‘I can’t play. I have a lot of pain in my knee, I can’t play’.”

This pain, in the same knee in which the former Villarreal man previously underwent surgery for a torn ACL, did not prove enough to keep Rodri out in midweek against Monaco, but concern for the midfield standout is nevertheless continuing to spread.

Speaking during a press conference on Friday, Pep Guardiola was in turn drawn on Rodri’s prospects for the 2026 World Cup, with Spain.

And Man City’s headmaster appeared positive in his response, explaining:

“Rodri will be good at the 2026 World Cup with Spain. Next season – he will be the best Rodri. This season, it will be how you handle it, step by step. It’s normal. For one year, he’s been on the massage table. The body changes, the rhythm changes.”

Conor Laird – GSFN