Will Rodri regain his former dominance? The midfielder who won the Ballon d’Or in 2024 and led Manchester City to a treble—can he return to that level after recovering from injury? This is the question on everyone’s mind. However, City’s coach Pep Guardiola is optimistic about him. The Spanish coach firmly believes that if Rodri regains his best form, they can win the league title.
Last season, Rodri missed almost the entire campaign due to knee surgery. Although he started this season fit, he suffered another injury. He has not played in City’s last four Premier League matches. Without him, City’s midfield has struggled to perform as expected, which has noticeably affected the team’s play. After nine league matches, City is six points behind leaders Arsenal, having lost three games.
After nearly a month, Rodri could return to action today. At the Etihad Stadium, City will face Bournemouth, who are currently second in the points table. Guardiola, encouraged by Rodri’s return, said, “I think Rodri is ready. I can’t say if he will start against Bournemouth, but I expect him to be on the field on Sunday.”
Last week, star striker Erling Haaland also suffered an injury in the 0-1 defeat to Aston Villa. He has now recovered. The loss to Villa was seen as a setback for City, but Guardiola remains confident: “As a team, we haven’t yet reached our best rhythm, but we are close. In the dressing room and during training, I can feel a special drive in the team.”
Guardiola believes that with Rodri back, City will return to their top form. “I believe Rodri will return to his best form. When that happens, it will be very difficult to beat us.”