Rodri injury concern revealed as Man City face anxious wait before Arsenal clash | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola faces an anxious wait to see if Rodri is fit to face Arsenal on Sunday after revealing the Ballon d’Or winner struggled with his knee this week.

Rodri, who suffered a cruciate ligament injury against Arsenal last September, had only begun two games in the subsequent 11 months.

But he started for City in both Sunday’s Manchester derby and Thursday’s 2-0 win over Napoli, when he came off after Erling Haaland had put his side ahead, and his manager hopes he will be able to play three major matches in a week.

Rodri was replaced by Nico Gonzalez during Man City's win over Napoli (Action Images via Reuters)

However, Guardiola is concerned after Rodri had been troubled by his knee in training on Wednesday, while maintaining he would be able to face Napoli.

Now he is unsure if his talisman can line up at the Emirates Stadium, saying: “I don’t know yet. He was so smart [against Napoli], I know the result was not over, 1-0 is always tricky, but [when] he does not feel good always we try to talk.

“We see day by day. [Wednesday], for example, the training session, he didn’t feel comfortable, he did not feel good but said, ‘no, no, I'll be fine tomorrow’ and played extraordinary, like Rodri is.

“With him in the pitch, we feel more comfortable but of course after injury you have to be alert and we will decide on Sunday how he does feel.”

Guardiola said Rodri has the mental strength required but his wary of putting too much pressure on his fellow Spaniard’s knee.

“The greatest, greatest players I ever trained in my managerial career, even as a football player, when I see is here,” he explained, pointing to his head.

“And here they are incredible, so confident in himself and Rodri is that. But the knee is completely different than how you think.