‘I’m 100% convinced he will be back’ – Guardiola confident in Rodri | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted that Ballon D’Or-winning midfielder Rodri will return to his best level.

“I’m 100% convinced he will be back,” Guardiola said of Rodri. “It will take a little bit of time to reach the level that he had. But if he plays game, game, game. He’s going to do it.

“It’s just we have to be sure the moment is there.”

After rupturing his ACL and missing almost the entirety of last season, the Spaniard has suffered multiple setbacks in recent months. He has played 90 minutes just twice this season as he continues to recover to full fitness.

“Believe me, Rodri can play one game a week,” his manager added. “The problem is you play Sunday, and after Tuesday, and after Saturday, and after Wednesday, and after that, you go to a national team.

“The teams who play in Europe in the level, it’s another competition.

“You play one game a week, oh my God, you recover perfectly.

“The problem is every three or four days, every three or four days.

“Now we have to handle that, especially with Rodri, because we know it.”

After limping off against Brentford, the midfielder has played just one minute in the past month. Guardiola has said it is unlikely that he will be risked against Liverpool on Sunday.

City’s boss continued: “It was a long, long injury. It was a long injury. The history says that the year after, you have slight, slight problems.

“We try to avoid it. We are desperate to avoid it. But it happened, because the statistics say that. 

“Muscular issues and step-backs, because you have been for one year – stopped.

“If you come back one game a week, you recover fine. But it’s so demanding.

“Me as a manager, when I see Rodri, and the doctors and physios say, Rodri is ready. He’s going to play, my friend. He’s going to play.

“And you have to, you know, be careful from now on. Be careful and be sure that you get the best step-back.”