Pep Guardiola reveals Rodri injury setback as Man City crash out of Club World Cup in shock

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·1 Juli 2025

Pep Guardiola reveals Rodri injury setback as Man City crash out of Club World Cup in shock

Ballon d’Or winner introduced as a substitute in last-16 clash before being brought off himself in extra time

Pep Guardiola appeared to suggest that Rodri had suffered a new injury setback during Manchester City’s shock Club World Cup defeat by Al-Hilal.

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The Ballon d’Or winner has ramped up his comeback from a long-term knee problem in the United States this summer and was introduced as an early second-half replacement for Ilkay Gundogan during Monday night’s thrilling last-16 tie in Orlando.

However, Rodri was later substituted himself before half-time in extra time, with City sending on Phil Foden, who brought them back level at 3-3 in a seven-goal epic at Camping World Stadium before a second effort from Marcos Leonardo later settled proceedings and avoided the lottery of a penalty shootout.

Asked about the decision to substitute his star midfielder after the game, Guardiola replied only: “Rodri – he complained about his situation.”

Rodri featured in all of City’s four matches at the Club World Cup, coming off the bench three times and starting once - playing over an hour in the 5-2 thrashing of Juventus in Group G, after which he earned effusive praise from Guardiola.

He appeared as a substitute against all of Wydad AC, Al Ain and Al-Hilal, totalling 172 minutes in the tournament after making his initial comeback from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament suffered against Arsenal in September in the penultimate Premier League match of the season at home to Bournemouth.

Guardiola was frustrated with City’s surprise loss to Al-Hilal, but insisted his side would now “rest and rest our minds for the new season”, having previously admitted that their involvement in the controversial competition could “destroy” their next Premier League campaign, with all of their rivals not involved, bar Chelsea.

Setback: Substitute Rodri was substituted himself as Manchester City exited the Club World Cup

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters

"It is a pity,” he said. “We have been on incredible journey together and were in a good place. The vibe was really good.

"I cannot thank the players enough for training and playing how they have been.

"But it was a difficult game. The margins were minimal. We created a lot and (Yassine) Bounou made incredible saves but we were so open.

"We would have loved to have continued, it will only be once every four years, and we had a feeling that the team was doing well.

"But we go home and now it is time to rest and rest our minds for the new season."

Guardiola added on the game: “We regret a little bit that we allowed them to run a bit more. They defended so deep, the wingers were so quick and Bounou made a lot of saves.

"In the end, we have to score and be clinical. They arrived more in the transitions. They did not create much in the first half but we did but could not finish it.

"I had a feeling we could go through but they punished us on the transitions."