Pep Guardiola says Rodri will likely be out for a “long time” but explained Manchester City are still waiting on a definitive prognosis and time frame on his injury, which is expected in the coming days.
The Athletic reported on Monday that Rodri was to be sidelined for a significant period with fears he may miss the rest of the season.
The midfielder sustained the injury while marking Thomas Partey at a corner during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal. The City midfielder turned awkwardly and went down holding his right knee, before receiving treatment on the pitch and eventually limping off.
Guardiola described the Rodri as “irreplaceable” and said it was now his job to find a solution.
“Still we don’t have the definitive (answer), but he will be out for a long time, a while, but maybe it will be less than we expected,” Guardiola said. “I cannot tell you because we are waiting on the phone calls from him and the doctors to know exactly what he has and the type of surgery he has to get. I think tonight, tomorrow we will know.
“We don’t want it, but we will still have a good season. I trust a lot in my players. I have a duty to find a solution.
“Rodri is irreplaceable and the team won’t play with the best midfielder in the world for a long, long time. Of course it’s a big, big blow for us.
“It’s football, it’s happened, and my duty is to find a solution, to be competitive like we have been for many years.”
Mateo Kovacic replaced Rodri against Arsenal, with Matheus Nunes, Rico Lewis, John Stones and Manuel Akanji also candidates to fill the Spaniard’s role going forward.
Rodri was making his first Premier League start of the season against Arsenal, having been eased back into action following the injury he sustained in the final of the European Championship. The 28-year-old previously played the second half against Brentford on September 14 before starting City’s Champions League opener against Inter Milan four days later.
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Ahead of the Inter game, Rodri had said professional players are “close” to going on strike due to the increasing number of matches in the football calendar. The former Atletico Madrid man played approximately 4,327 minutes across 50 games for City last in 2023-24 and they face the prospect of an 11-month-long campaign this term if reach the final of the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup, which is scheduled for July 13 next year.
Rodri has been a key player for City since his arrival from Atletico in 2019, with Guardiola’s team performing far better with the Euro 2024 winner in the side.
City return to Premier League action on Saturday when they face Newcastle United at St. James’ Park.
Guardiola’s side then travel to Slovan Bratislava for their second Champions League league phase fixture before hosting Fulham ahead of the October international break.
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(Michael Regan/Getty Images)
