Pep Guardiola hints Rodri could return this season

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has indicated that there is a possibility of Rodri returning to action at the fag end of the ongoing season. The Spaniard hasn’t played any football since undergoing the knife for his knee injury.

Rodri, the Ballon d’Or winner in 2024, has started individual training at the City Football Academy, which is good news for the Sky Blues.

“The fans must know they are not the only ones who are excited,” Guardiola said. “It’s been five months or six months. After the international break, could be. But one step at a time. We don’t have to make stupid decisions to come from weeks earlier. It’s good, but still he’s not close to coming back I’d say.

“But he’s touching the ball today in the locker room, making touches with the players. He feels confident, he feels more happy. I could not expect [that he could return] before the end of the season, not even the [Club] World Cup. In the Premier League, maybe it’s going to happen.”

Guardiola is also waiting for a medical update on Nathan Aké after he was substituted at halftime during the 3-1 win over Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.

“We’ll do the test but he [Ake] struggles sometimes with the feet, probably, it’s been like this the whole season, the central defenders,” he said.

“Hopefully, the young ones [Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis], they don’t have a lot of stuff in their life, can sustain it and help us.”

Manchester City is currently in fourth place in the standings with a total of 47 points after 27 games. Pep Guardiola’s team will next take on Nottingham Forest on Saturday at the City Ground.