HOW RODRI’S GROIN INJURY IS IMPACTING MANCHESTER CITY’S HIGH-STAKES PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE CHASE.
Manchester City’s Rodri and Ruben Dias miss the trip to Burnley. Discover Pep Guardiola’s injury update and the Premier League title race.
Pep Guardiola has indicated that Rodri is unlikely to be available for Manchester City's upcoming trip to Burnley, but he tried to ease concerns that the midfielder’s groin injury might sideline him for a prolonged period during the crucial stage of the title race.
City faces a tough test on Wednesday in the Premier League when they visit Burnley, with Rodri expected to be absent and centre-back Ruben Dias still out of action.
Guardiola confirmed these setbacks as his team attempts to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal.
Rodri picked up the injury late in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. The manager pointed out that it seems to be related to the groin.
Meanwhile, Dias hasn’t played since City’s Champions League round of 16 second leg defeat at home to Real Madrid last month.
Talking to the media on Tuesday, Guardiola gave an update: “I don’t think Rodri will be ready for tomorrow. We’ll see for the FA Cup semi-final against Southampton this weekend,” he said, adding, “Dias isn’t ready yet.”
These absences come at a pivotal moment in the Premier League title fight. Arsenal are leading with 70 points from 33 games, aiming for their first league crown since 2004. City trails by three points at 67 but has a crucial game in hand.
Although Arsenal have stumbled recently with four consecutive domestic losses across all competitions, City have regained some momentum since beating them in the Carabao Cup final last month.
Guardiola acknowledged how demanding their recent fixture schedule has been.
“It was a tough game on Sunday, both physically and emotionally. At the same time, we still have six games left. We understand exactly what’s at stake, whether we get the result or not,” he explained.
He also highlighted how challenging it is for both sides as the season reaches its climax.
“Neither team can afford to lose or drop points. It’s hard to bounce back, and our schedule is very demanding.”
Reflecting on the pursuit, Guardiola added, “For the team chasing, it’s more difficult both mentally and physically. After what happened against Arsenal, we have to go to Burnley and perform at the level required.”
MANCHESTER CITY REACH FINAL STAGES FOR TROYES SENSATION MATHYS DETOURBET THIS SUMMER
Mathys Detourbet to join Man City! See how the club beat PSG to sign the Troyes winger while eyeing a Newcastle target.
Manchester City are closing in on a deal for Mathys Tel, Troyes’ highly rated young winger. Sources tell StadiumNest that talks are heading toward the finish line, and both clubs stand to benefit, especially Troyes, who want to secure promotion this season.
Back in January, we reported that City had been looking at rising talent in their network of sister clubs. Detourbet and his teammate Christ Batola, both at Troyes, caught their eye right away.
Paris Saint-Germain have shown interest in the pair too, but City Football Group are determined to keep both players within their system.
As things stand, Detourbet is set to sign for Manchester City this summer. The plan is for him to return to Troyes on loan for next season, giving him more time to play and develop.
Troyes, sitting at the top of the Ligue 2 table and aiming to get back to Ligue 1 for the first time since 2022/23, sees this arrangement as a win. Keeping Detourbet, who has four goals and seven assists from 35 matches, gives them a better shot at promotion, even as they sell him to City.
As for the second star, 16-year-old striker Batola, he’s expected to sign a new long-term deal with Troyes, which keeps him within the City Group setup for now. The city sees him as a future option; Batola has scored nine and assisted twice in just 21 appearances this season. Locking him down keeps his talent in their circle and gives them flexibility down the road.
City is moving quickly, especially with PSG sniffing around. They look set to land Detourbet and keep Batola as a prospect, showing off the strength of their global multi-club model.
Meanwhile, in terms of immediate signings, City remain focused on landing a Newcastle United player labelled as a “dream target", though they’re also exploring other options heading into the summer transfer window.
ERLING HAALAND CALM DESPITE FOUR-MATCH DROUGHT: "THERE'S NOTHING TO LOSE, NO PRESSURE"
Erling Haaland and Man City take on Arsenal at the Etihad. Get the latest team news and title race odds for tonight.
Man City sits second in the league, trailing the leaders by six points with six games left to play. Pep Guardiola’s squad, however, holds a game in hand over Arsenal.
If City manage to beat Arsenal today and then secure a win against Burnley, they could draw level on points with the North London club, maybe even surpass them depending on the goal difference.
So far, Haaland has netted 22 goals in 31 Premier League matches, but the Norwegian doesn’t see any extra pressure on City heading into this game. He’s gone without scoring in his last four outings.
“Right now, I’m quite calm,” Haaland told Sky Sports.
“It’s one game per week, which is pretty unusual for us. It hardly ever happens. Honestly, I don’t feel much nervousness because we’ve been chasing all season. There’s nothing to lose, so no real pressure.
“You’d have to ask Arsenal if they feel pressure. I can only speak for myself. I don’t feel much pressure because we’re still a fair way behind.”
Last season, Haaland had a memorable clash with Gabriel during a 2-2 draw at the Etihad. Gabriel shouted in Haaland’s face, and Haaland responded by tossing a ball at the Arsenal defender and telling their manager Arteta to “stay humble” after a heated exchange that also involved several other Gunners players, including ex-City forward Gabriel Jesus.
“It’s always a battle,” Haaland said about facing Arsenal.
“They usually have a lot of players around me, which actually works in my favour. It means something. It’s tough playing with many players crowding you, but it’s a good fight. As I said, it’s always good to test yourself against the best because that’s what you want.”
Arsenal, arriving today, has been inconsistent lately. They’ve only won once in their last five matches and narrowly scraped a 0-0 draw against Sporting Lisbon in their recent Champions League semi-final clash.
