Pep Guardiola believes that Manchester City will have to wait until next season to see the best of Rodri again, while the Spanish midfielder slowly finds his feet after knee operation.
The Ballon d’Or winner of 2024 missed last weekend’s 5-1 victory over Burnley because of pain in the knee-12 months after he had sustained front cruciate ligament damage.
The 29-year-old came back in May, but suffered a series of small setbacks.
«Rodri is an excellent player, everyone knows,» said Guardiola Friday.
“Perhaps he struggled to understand that it is not about six months or 12, the World Cup will be the best Rodri, and next season will be the best Rodri. This year is how he deals with it.
«He has been gone for a year. The body changes, the rhythm changes, it is a matter of time when he is healthy, he will come back.»
To cover the absence of Rodri, City splashed £ 50 million ($ 67 million) on Nico Gonzalez in January, but he has difficulty matching his fellow countryman’s levels.
The former midfielder of Barcelona replaced Rodri for the last 30 minutes of the 2-2 Champions League-equal game on Wednesday in Monaco and gave a late fine that cost the victory of the city.
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«He is learning and improving. We need him,» said Guardiola, referring to Gonzalez.
“Rodri cannot yet maintain the rhythm for games for 90 minutes. He has made an incredible effort during the week with Manchester United, Napoli and especially Arsenal.
«I try to protect my players. Sometimes I want the best players there, but I have to protect the players.»
Despite the drop of two points in Monaco, a draw of the unbeaten run of the city extended to six games in all games.
City sustained his first trophy -free campaign last season and Guardiola is encouraged by the progress he sees after renewing his team with a number of younger players.
«The happiest feeling is how we have improved. I love that feeling. And the feeling that I think we can do better,» he said.
“That is the feeling that I like as a manager. The feeling that we are creating again – the pace, the pace.
«Everything is a bit more fluid and more consistent. But we can do better, and I think that’s great.»
City, who is five points behind the Premier League leaders Liverpool, travel to Brentford on Sunday.
Published on October 3, 2025
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