Pep Guardiola has given a worrying update on the fitness of Rodri ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League clash against Everton.
Following the international break, City return to action on Saturday when they welcome the Toffees to the Etihad.
Victory could send the home side to the top of the table but Everton will be fired up for the match and would even move ahead of the Citizens if they got the three points.
Guardiola is grateful then to have several key players back from injury, namely forward Omar Marmoush and left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, while midfielder Mateo Kovacic continues to build up his fitness.
‘They trained yesterday and they are much, much better. They are close to comeback,’ the manager said in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
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‘Maybe 50-60 minutes [for Kovacic]. He needs quality moment, quality time and quality minutes. It’s important he is back step-by-step.’
There was less good news surrounding key player Rodri who is struggling with injury niggles after recovering from his ACL issue that ruled him out for eight months last season.
City tend to struggle in the absence of the defensive midfielder and fans were left frustrated after the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner hobbled off the pitch in the last game against Brentford.
Speaking after the 1-0 win in west London, Guardiola said this latest muscle injury was not serious and suggested Rodri could be back in time to face Everton or perhaps next week’s Champions League game against Villarreal.
But on Friday, the manager worryingly claimed he was none the wiser to the Spain captain’s availability, adding: ‘No news. He is not ready for tomorrow.
‘I don’t know when he will be back.’
City have a series of important games on the horizon, not least a clash against title rivals Liverpool on November 9.
After a tricky start to the season, the Citizens are seven games unbeaten in all competitions and currently sit fifth in the Premier League, three points behind leaders Arsenal.
“At the moment, I think I have the energy with my players to simply make a better season than last season. This is my target,’ Guardiola said.
‘I am never sitting here at the start of November and December and going to say we are going to win this or that. I see things that we are doing much better than last season and in every game, we are a little bit better.’
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