INJURY ADMISSION: PEP GUARDIOLA ADMITS CITY BROUGHT RODRI BACK "TOO EARLY" THIS SEASON
Pep Guardiola admits a major mistake! Discover why Rodri was rushed back and the latest on his "desperate" contract extension.
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.”
WHY PEP GUARDIOLA CANCELLED TRAINING BEFORE MANCHESTER CITY’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REMATCH
Pep Guardiola cancels Manchester City training to combat fatigue ahead of the 3-0 comeback attempt vs Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola has shared his reasoning for skipping training the day before Manchester City’s crucial Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid at the Etihad. Facing a tough three-goal deficit from their 3-0 loss at the Bernabeu last week, City are up against the difficult task of overturning this against a team that has won Europe’s top trophy 15 times.
Historically, only four teams have managed to claw back a gap of three or more goals in the knockout stages, so the challenge ahead is immense. Guardiola acknowledges his players will need to deliver an almost flawless performance if they hope to stage a remarkable comeback on home turf. Still, he remains hopeful they will create plenty of scoring chances against Alvaro Arbeloa’s side.
In a somewhat unexpected move, Guardiola has decided to give his first team a day off on Monday, opting for a light session just hours before kickoff on Tuesday. At Monday’s press conference, he explained the logic behind this approach, citing the fatigue from travel and recent matches. After returning late from Madrid, then heading to London for a Premier League draw against West Ham, the players have had a packed schedule. Guardiola feels a day of rest will serve them better than trying to squeeze in more training.
He further emphasised the mental aspect, pointing out that mental strength plays a big role in how well they perform. He plans to assess the players’ condition and conduct training on Tuesday afternoon. With travel taking its toll and players spontaneously connecting with their families, he believes keeping them relaxed and fresh is crucial.
Captain Bernardo Silva, who was the only City player present for media duties, supported Guardiola’s decision. He reflected on past occasions when the team took rest days following both wins and losses, trusting the manager’s judgement to help them regroup and come back stronger.
On team news, Guardiola revealed he has most of his starting lineup settled, though one spot remains uncertain. Josko Gvardiol (tibial fracture) and Rico Lewis (ankle) are sidelined, but Mateo Kovacic has returned to the bench after recovering from a lengthy ankle and heel injury. With these preparations in place, City will be charging into a daunting but pivotal night against one of Europe’s giants.
WHY RAYAN CHERKI DESERVES TO START MANCHESTER CITY’S MUST-WIN REAL MADRID REMATCH
Rayan Cherki’s creative cameo wasn't enough to save City’s title hopes as focus shifts to the Real Madrid UCL clash.
Pep Guardiola, as always, has shown he’s willing to face criticism head-on, especially when it comes to his tactical choices. After Manchester City’s recent draw at the London Stadium, all eyes turned to his handling of Rayan Cherki. The young substitute’s influence on the game starkly contrasted with the lacklustre performance of the starting lineup.
That draw against West Ham was a blow to City’s title hopes, putting them nine points behind the league leaders. Guardiola decided to deploy Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush on the wings to support Erling Haaland, but that front three failed to break down a stubborn West Ham defence. The game’s momentum shifted in the second half when Cherki came on alongside other subs like Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku. Cherki’s creativity and close ball control started to open up opportunities that hadn’t been there in the first hour, although City still couldn’t find the winner.
In the post-match analysis, Guardiola didn’t shy away from owning up to his decisions. He called his starting lineup a “bad selection” and openly accepted the criticism. He explained that the problem partly comes down to balance: earlier in the season, playing Erling Haaland alongside players like Doku or Cherki made the team feel unsteady, lacking the Premier League stability required.
Still, despite the dropped points, Guardiola remains hopeful. He sees City as a team developing, one that has grown quite a bit but is still a work in progress. He defended starting Semenyo, recognising the stability brought by players like him and Nico O’Reilly on the wings. At the same time, he praised Cherki’s unique impact, especially when coming off the bench late in games, even if the young player doesn’t always have the pace.
As the Premier League frustrations settle, City’s focus now shifts quickly to their upcoming Champions League showdown with Real Madrid. Facing a 3-0 aggregate deficit, this midweek tie promises to be a stern test, demanding all the tactical acumen Guardiola can muster.
