Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City brought Rodri back too soon after his injury, but he thinks the midfielder is finally getting back to his best.

Rodri, who plays for Spain, pushed himself to recover from an ACL injury in just eight months. That ended up causing more problems; he kept picking up more injuries, and it really affected his season.

People around the club noticed. Some thought Rodri played too much at last summer’s Club World Cup, especially considering the rough conditions in America.

Guardiola said both Rodri and the club have learned from those mistakes. Rodri kept getting muscle injuries, which cost him almost all of October. He only played a minute in November, then disappeared again until the New Year.

“We came back too early,” Guardiola said. “We wanted him back, and he wanted it even more. But we rushed it, and that made things worse. It’s a lesson for us.”

It’s been about 18 months since Rodri’s original injury, but he returned early to play in the World Cup and other matches.

“He’s getting a lot better now,” Guardiola said. “That last step back to his best – we wanted it sooner, but he just needed more time. He’s still not quite there, but you see it in his attitude, in training, and in the way he plays. He’s a special player.”

Rodri’s ready to play against Newcastle this Saturday, while City waits for a decision on an FA misconduct charge. He’s got 18 months left on his contract, and Guardiola made it clear he wants Rodri to stay longer.

“I’d love for him to sign an extension,” Guardiola said. Rodri is Rodri. He’s smarter; he understands the game more now. And you can tell when he’s on the pitch; his teammates just feel more confident. That’s experience. That’s timing. Some players just step up on the big stage.”

Pep Guardiola says he hasn’t talked about the Premier League title race with his Manchester City squad, even after Arsenal slipped up in their last two matches. Arsenal’s late collapse at Wolves on Wednesday put City in a strong spot; if they win all their remaining games, including the big one against Arsenal in April, they’ll take the title.

Just two weeks ago, Arsenal was nine points clear of City, though City had a game in hand. Now, after City’s dramatic win over Liverpool and a straightforward victory over Fulham, while Arsenal stumbled against Brentford and Wolves, that gap has shrunk to five points. And City still has that extra game. If they beat Newcastle on Saturday, they’ll cut Arsenal’s lead to just two points and crank up the pressure, especially with Arsenal heading into a derby against Tottenham, who’ll be playing their first match under new coach Igor Tudor. Even with the momentum shifting City’s way, Guardiola isn’t interested in title talk, at least not with the media and not with his own players.

At his Friday press conference, Guardiola kept his focus narrow: “Twelve games is a lot. All I’m thinking about is Newcastle. I’m not even looking at the League Cup final with Arsenal until we get there. It’s Newcastle next, then some rest, then Leeds. I have no idea what’s coming in these next twelve games, and I haven’t brought it up once with my players.

“These past two days, it’s just been Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle. I haven’t mentioned the table; I honestly don’t care. Twelve games are a lifetime in football. Ask me about the title race when there are two or three games left; right now, it’s way too early. That’s just how I see it.

“Yes, they were nine points ahead because we had that game in hand. Once everyone catches up on fixtures, we’ll see what really separates us. There’s still so much that can happen before this season’s done. Most of our squad, about 70 per cent, are new to this kind of pressure. The only experience that matters is winning the next match.”

Guardiola also took a moment to praise Antoine Semenyo, who’s hit the ground running since his £64 million move from Bournemouth in January, notching five goals and two assists already. “He’s scoring plenty, sure, but it’s more than that; he’s got a unique rhythm, and he can play in three different positions,” Guardiola said.

“He arrived from Bournemouth with fantastic defensive energy, and he’s made a real impact. We’ve faced Antoine plenty of times before. Whether he’s ready to be called world-class or elite, we’ll see. He’s playing Champions League football for the first time, and knockout games are a real test. But honestly, with his mentality, I think he’ll handle it. Guys who join us usually adapt fast because the players who’ve been here a while make it easy for them.”