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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about when Rodri is expected back and how long before he will be at his best
Rodri may not return for Manchester City before Christmas - but Pep Guardiola is adamant that the Spaniard has not suffered an injury setback. One injury-time appearance against Everton in October is all Rodri has managed in the last two months and the midfielder is still a few weeks away from being ready to be considered.
Having missed the majority of last season with an ACL injury, he returned before the end of that campaign and went to the Club World Cup in summer but picked up a hamstring injury in their shock defeat to Saudi side Al Hilal. When he returned this season, another hamstring issue suffered against Brentford has effectively seen him miss more than a dozen games.
That will continue as City act cautiously to avoid the player suffering another setback when he does return. Having tried to listen to Rodri as much as possible as to how his body feels, the injury at Brentford and his subsequent issues in training have forced Guardiola and the player to take things slow and the latest information that 'a few weeks' is seen as the best-case scenario for him to return.
"It was a muscular injury against Brentford, in a high-tendon muscular hamstring area. And he's a bit more careful," said Guardiola. "And that will happen. Previous ones, when he stepped back, we had to be more cautious and have no more prevention but make sure it is safe.
"So it's simple. But it's not a step back. So the process of recovery is doing well. He start to make training sessions on the pitch already. So hopefully in a few weeks, it can start."
Even when Rodri returns, Guardiola is not expecting much from a player who he reiterated will not near his best form until the end of the season. The priority for City is that the 29-year-old does not take 'a thousand steps back' when he does come back, far from his best.
"I want desperately for him to come back. In Madrid and the next one but then six more weeks out. It makes no sense. I want to be sure," he said.
"When he comes back, he has to make a pre-season. He cannot play 90 minutes, 90 minutes, 90 minutes. When you injure your ACL, your body is completely different.
"Of course, he's strong. He's strong and in some moments he's sad. I would not be happy if he's not sad or concerned. But now I said ‘it's the last step, you’re on the verge to come back, don't make one step forward to make 1,000 steps backwards’. That's what I try to do because the season is still thousands of minutes in front of us. Ahead of us, we have many nightmare things to live. He has to be there. He will be there.
"He has a World Cup. And next season, the next season, the next season. As much we recover him, it will not be for now - it will be for the end of the season and next season. And that is the main thing."
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