Caution is the order of the day with Rodri’s return for Manchester City | OneFootball

One of the biggest injury blows Manchester City suffered this season was the ACL injury Rodri sustained in September against Arsenal. The injury City’s midfield general suffered was a crippling blow to Pep Guardiola’s side that they never recovered from. What he adds to the Manchester City lineup cannot be replaced. That has been clear to see ever since Rodri went down. Pep Guardiola has provided an update on Rodri’s return and it seems that Manchester City will be taking a cautious approach with the fitness of their most important player.

Pep Guardiola did have good news on the injury front ahead of Manchester City’s FA Cup quarter-final tie against Bournemouth. The City manager explained that outside of his team’s long-term absentees, his players had returned from international duty fit but fatigued. While speaking on his squad’s fitness, he also provided an update on the progress of Rodri’s return from injury.

Guardiola explained that Manchester City will take a cautious approach with Rodri’s return. Speaking on the Ballon d’Or winner’s recovery, the Manchester City manager told the media: “It will be nice if he could play tomorrow, but we don’t want to make a wrong decision right now and take a step back.”

“The doctor says he’s injured for six, seven months. He’s behaving really well on the pitch already.”

“Competitive [football] is completely different. We will see. I rely on what the physios and the doctor say.”

“We don’t want to use him for two weeks and then not have him for a long time afterwards. We have to make sure that he’s fine.”

Playing it safe with Rodri’s return is the right move for Manchester City.

A cautious approach with Rodri’s return is the right course of action from Manchester City. There is nothing to be gained from rushing Rodri back on the pitch. The last thing he or Manchester City need is for the Spanish international to suffer a setback after such a serious injury. That is always the risk with a player coming back from the type of injury that Rodri sustained. While having Rodri back on the pitch would be a boost for the world champions it can’t come at the risk of his long-term fitness. Based on Pep Guardiola’s comments that is a risk that Manchester City aren’t willing to take with the Ballon d’Or winner’s fitness.

It would be nice if Rodri could return by the end of this season or for the FIFA Club World Cup in June. But more important than that is that he returns is when he 100% ready. If that isn’t until next season then so be it as Manchester City’s midfield general will have a massive role to play next season once he is over the ACL injury that ruined his 24/25 season.