“There is a chance” – Pep Guardiola makes Rodri fitness admission ahead of FIFA World Cup
Pep says Man City are better with Rodri but that Kovacic, Nico & Bernardo as capable deputiesMan City boss insists 2024-25 woes weren’t solely down to Rodri’s absence Catalan is confident Rodri wi...
“There is a chance” – Pep Guardiola makes Rodri fitness admission ahead of FIFA World Cup Pep says Man City are better with Rodri but that Kovacic, Nico & Bernardo as capable deputies Man City boss insists 2024-25 woes weren’t solely down to Rodri’s absence Catalan is confident Rodri will be fit for the FIFA World Cup this summer Pep Guardiola has addressed Manchester City’s midfield options in Rodri’s continued absence, insisting the squad has enough quality to cope without the Ballon d’Or winner. Rodri has been managing a calf issue sustained in the closing stages of April’s 2-1 win over Arsenal and has been absent from City’s last four matchday squads. With the Premier League title race entering its final lap and the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley on the horizon, the 29-year-old’s availability has become one of the defining questions of the season’s climax.
Pep Guardiola press conference: Rodri and Abdukodir Khusanov fitness updates for Crystal Palace clash Speaking in a press conference ahead of Wednesday’s home meeting with Crystal Palace , Guardiola offered a detailed assessment yet of how the Blues are managing without one of their most important players. Rodri is the best in his position when fit, admits Guardiola Asked how he approaches setting up City without Rodri, Guardiola pointed to several players who have stepped up in the Spaniard’s absence. “Rodri, as I said many times, has been almost one year and a half without him, and he’s the best player in his position when he’s fit,” Guardiola said.
“The team feels better with him, but now Kova ( Mateo Kovacic ) is coming back and Nico Gonzalez help us a lot. “Sometimes you require these type of players or this type of things in some players to do what you have to do. And we have Bernardo ( Silva ) playing the last game; he was exceptional, really, really exceptional the game we played against Brentford , him.
And I’m really pleased with that. ” Pep: 2024-25 woes weren’t solely down to Rodri’s absence Pressed on whether deploying two midfielders in place of Rodri has a knock-on impact further up the pitch, Guardiola pushed back on the wider narrative that his absence is the defining factor in City’s form. Revealed: Manchester City stance on Rodri contract talks amid Real Madrid interest “Sometimes we’ll play two, sometimes we’ll play just one, sometimes they rotate – it depends.