Pep Guardiola reveals injury development on Rodri ahead of West Ham clash | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed a further development on the injury sustained by Rodri during the European Championship final this summer.

The Spaniard was issued with an extended break away from Manchester City duties over the course of the summer, having seen his season prolonged to the furthest point possible by competing in the European Championship final.

A 2-1 win over England – featuring several of his Manchester City teammates – saw Rodri claim a fourth major trophy in a single season, and an eighth trophy across the last two seasons, emphasising his remarkable status in world football.

However, the showpiece finale in Berlin did not end the way Rodri would have wanted on a personal note, having been withdrawn at the half-time interval with a muscular problem that has now caused issues for him upon returning to Manchester City.

Having missed the club’s opening two competitive fixtures in Premier League action, many supporters have been left wondering where Rodri is in his recovery, having not trained with the first-team squad at this stage.

Speaking during a recent press conference, and quizzed on the fitness of Rodri amid an ongoing absence from Manchester City’s training ground activity, Pep Guardiola was able to provide supporters with an update.

“No, he’s ok,” Pep Guardiola reassured those concerned.

The City boss continued, “He had an injury with the national team (during the European Championship final against England), and still has some niggles, but it’s the last part and he’s training.

“I saw yesterday, quite highly I would say, and it’s just a question of days that he will rejoin the group to make a training session.”

Despite the importance of Rodri in Manchester City’s tactical operation, Pep Guardiola’s side have been faultless in the absence of the Spaniard, recording two dominant victories from their opening two Premier League matches.

Guardiola has been forced into sourcing solutions to playing without Rodri thus far, utilising a mixture of Mateo Kovacic in the lone defensive midfield role, with support from Rico Lewis when in possession of the ball.

The substitution of the Croatian international due to injury early in the second-half against Ipswich also saw a return to action for John Stones, who returned to the defensive midfield role for the remainder of the contest.