Manchester City’s captaincy vote, and Rodri’s replacement – Every word from part two of Pep Guardiola’s pre-Newcastle press conference | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has confirmed the voted leadership group within the Manchester City squad for the 2024/25 season, speaking during a press conference.

It is just one subject in an extensive press conference that covered a variety of subjects, including how Manchester City will cope with the absence of Rodri from their squad for a prolonged period of time.

Manchester City are returning to Premier League duties for the first time since Rodri’s serious knee injury sustained against Arsenal last Sunday, having already played since the 2-2 draw with the Gunners in a Carabao Cup third round victory over Watford.

It remains to be seen how Pep Guardiola puts together his Manchester City line-up with Rodri missing due to injury, although particular elements of his plans have already been openly discussed in Friday’s press conference.

Among those solutions are Rico Lewis inverting from full-back to support another player, including the likes of Mateo Kovacic, whilst the upcoming January transfer window could also present an opportunity to reinforce the squad with investment.

Ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday lunchtime, here is every word from part two of Pep Guardiola’s press conference at the City Football Academy!

On Mikel Arteta’s ‘information’ comments

“Did he say that? What did he say, specifically? (‘I was there for four years’) Yeah, he’s right. And? (Implication was he was at Manchester City for four years and I know what goes on there; the same) Next time, Mikel (Arteta) has to be more clear!

(You’re not aware of him saying that all?!) “No, next time he has to be more clear, exactly what does he mean, what he said about being here for four years and knows exactly what happens here. Because it can be related to all the processes now with 115 charges, maybe it’s about that, he knows information about that maybe, or maybe he has some things that I don’t know.

“Really, next time, he has to say it more clearly exactly what happened. (I think he said it on purpose, to leave it hanging?) Okay, next time, like the good relation I have with him, hopefully this question is asked and he can answer exactly what does it mean.

“What I said, he was here and I know what happens here and still to be clouds there, to be more precise. We text after the game and that’s all.”

On previous big injuries including Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Sergio Aguero – Is Rodri the biggest challenge in terms of finding a solution

“Everybody knows, even our opponents and how happy they are. Everybody knows the mindset and now realises that Rodri is part of the fundamentals and many, many things and many processes – that is the truth. But what can we do? We can complain, and say, ‘I’m so sorry, when Rodri comes back we’ll start to fight again!’

“We have to find a solution as a team, me as a manager to say to the players, these important players, otherwise we would not play them a thousand million minutes that they play, and consistent, and recovery and whatever. But we have to move forward, move on.

“When we lose, it’s because we have to find a way, and we are going to find a way. I’m so optimistic in myself and my team, and we are going to find a way, that’s for sure. We are going to… knowing that he is an important player, but as you said, Fernandinho was at that time, and Sergio (Aguero) had done it many times, or Kevin (De Bruyne) many times – Kevin was one year injured! Almost six or seven months! A lot of time injuries, injuries, injuries, and he didn’t play much and we won again.

“And we have to find a way, we have to find a way to do it because the team is good, the players are extraordinary in terms of mindset, and togetherness and we are going to try to do it.”

On showing Manchester City can cope in the next few weeks especially – opponents might see no Rodri and it gives them a big lift

“No I understand that for the opponents, I understand that. But we played four games this season without him, and we won them. And of course he’s important, but even if we won a lot of games, he would be missed. But we have to try to do it, and when we lose a game, OK it would not be specifically for Rodri.

“Rodri is irreplaceable for the fact that he has something that is difficult to find, but not here and all around the world. If you say, ‘OK Pep, you have money to buy a player like Rodri’. They’re not on the market! Because he’s really, really good. But it is what it is!

“I’m so sad for him because nobody deserves it. Hopefully surgery went well, and time, recovery, and with the players that we have – this is the challenge. At the end, this team needs that kind of challenge.

“The opponents, I said in the last press conference, we don’t expect that everything will be smooth and comfortable and easy for everyone. There is no team that wants to be more beaten than us here in England, we felt it, we smelt it… ‘Ugh, again City, ugh’. They don’t like them. At all! So we expect that, and OK, it will be a problem, but OK, let’s go! Let’s try!”

On whether Erling Haaland is OK for this weekend

“Yeah.”

On whether he liked Erling Haaland being ‘fired up’ against Arsenal

“*Long pause* I would say that sometimes, the emotions are so there and when you are… Gabriel said perfectly in the press conference after the match; This is a war, we have here provoke the opponents, to push them, and at the end, what can you do?

“We have to, OK, you provoke me, OK I’m there. You want a war? I will war. What do you have to do? And after, the emotions are the emotions. So I’m sure he’s not proud, but listen, in the type of challenge that Arsenal challenged us, I understand it.”

On whether a big blow to Rodri affects the morale of the overall group

“Of course. The morale when Oscar (Bobb) was injured in the pre-season… Of course Rodri is another step for what happened in the years. When one guy is injured, we are so sad. But at the end, he knows we are there.

“Now he will be a long time in Madrid with his family, recover there with the doctors and physios there, and come back here with our open arms and we will be more than welcome to come back to us. And after that, you have to, OK, Watford game, you have to play.

“And now Newcastle, we are going to Champions League, and after Fulham at home, and after we have to see what happens.”

On how he lefts the dressing room after such a blow

“We have huge personalities in the dressing room and Rodri is one of them by far, but there are another qualities, and everyone has to make a step forward. When you don’t have these type of players, step forward to do more. It is what it is.

“Everybody know how important he is, how important Rodri is for us, everybody knows it. But that means we have to do more to replace this absence for a long, long time.”

On the challenge of finding someone like-for-like to replace Rodri in the transfer window

“Right now, we are not thinking to find anyone. But the scouting, or the department from Txiki (Begiristain), of course they are always connected to players. But me, I don’t find, this is the team.

“But what I said; in January we have time and maybe the situation is maybe I feel we need something or maybe an opportunity is possible, not possible, and we will take a decision. When Rodri is fit, we will not absolutely think about that, but now we see.

“Now I’m not able to take a decision right now. First because it is not possible to do it, and second because I want to see my team and how we react all together.”

On whether it is likely an existing player alters his position on a more permanent basis, if playing two in defensive midfield

“I have solutions. Players can play in that position. They can play. In the long balls, present to win the ball, transitions offensively and defensively, he (Rodri) is the best. So we cannot… If I see long balls without Rodri, can we win them now, we are going to lose. Lose, 10/10.

“With Joelinton tomorrow, we are going to lose. But it is not the problem. As much as you are far away and ready for the second and go to Joelinton, we will recover maybe four, five, six seconds later.

“But it is what it is, we have to adapt with the players that we have, and the other ones they will give us something that maybe Rodri doesn’t have. Or maybe one cannot do it, and we will put two players, and they will help to do the process that we have to do.

“And that when it’s going to happen, we will see game by game by game and see what happens. Maybe we will be late because we are going to lose a lot of games, I don’t know. But at the end we play five games in the Premier League, still 33 games left, 99 points – a lot of things are going to happen.”

On how is Rodri feeling

“I spoke with him two, three days ago before Watford, and he was a little bit sad, but at the same time, OK we are going to do it, it’s happened. What I said, when it’s a game like against Arsenal and he made the gesture to go out, knowing Rodri it had to be something dangerous, otherwise he is stubborn, he would’ve stayed on the pitch.

“When he went out, it’s because he felt something that just players feel it. Always we are optimistic that it might be less, but unfortunately it was the worst and we go on.”

On Rico Lewis’ availability in the role and what it says about his intelligence

“Never played alone, but alongside another one, always he played good and positions more advanced like an attacking midfielder, in the pockets he’s one of the best that we have. And so far, except the Arsenal game or a few seconds against Brentford, he’s played all the minutes.

“And always he has been the best. That’s why… If you say the replacement for Rodri is Rico (Lewis), NO! It’s impossible. But he gives us something alongside (Mateo) Kova, alongside John (Stones), Manu (Akanji), (Ilkay) Gundo, at the end he can do things that maybe can work. We will see!”

On the vote for captaincy

“Yeah; Kyle (Walker) is the captain. Vice-captain is Kevin (De Bruyne). Ruben (Dias), Rodri, Bernardo (Silva), (Ilkay) Gundo. Yeah (six players) because it was tied, it was two ties. (You’re going to end up with 11!) Well, for me it doesn’t matter. As much as they have less problems, we will have.”

On whether Manchester City’s increased injuries is already a sign of the number of games players have had

“They’re not muscular injuries like maybe these ones are more concerning; this is trauma from Oscar (Bobb), and trauma is Rodri’s. It depends because of the fatigue, the tiredness – Oscar was not tired, it was an action within the training session. I would say it was unlucky. But I think all the clubs in general have a lot, but it is what it is. So we accept that and go.”