Rodri's frank injury admission as Man City star opens up on nightmare - 'doubting many things'

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Manchester City star Rodri helped the Blues win the Carabao Cup against Arsenal at Wembley on Sunday

Rodri has admitted he doubted whether he’d ever return to his best level following his injury nightmare - but now that he has the Manchester City star is ready to embrace the pressure of the run.

The midfielder suffered a serious knee injury 18 months ago and returned to action towards the end of last season. He subsequently suffered small setbacks on his road to full fitness and it wasn’t until January that he began to feature regularly.

Blues boss Pep Guardiola doesn’t think the midfielder will be back to his best until this summer’s World Cup when Rodri will hope to lead Spain to glory in North America.

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But the 29-year-old has started each of City’s last four games including Sunday’s Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal, and six of the last seven with the exception of Newcastle away in the FA Cup when the Blues heavily rotated. And there are signs that he is beginning to find his rhythm and consistency, something the player himself wasn’t sure he’d ever recover.

"It's such an incredible thing to be back playing regularly," he said. "I had been doubting many things including if I was going to be able to come back.

"Physically, you are in pain. Mentally, you have a lot of feelings. I really questioned myself, but getting to a place like where I'm at now, it makes me proud of the process I've lived. Now it's about enjoying being back where I want to be."

The lengthy spell on the sidelines recovering and working his way back to full fitness meant plenty of time for contemplation. And Rodri, who is out of contract at the Etihad in 2027, admits he is enjoying the pressure and relishing the run-in as City chase more silverware.

"When you go through a time like I've been through, you have a lot of time to think," he said, speaking in an interview published in the Carabao Cup final programme.

"We're very lucky to enjoy our profession and sometimes when you're involved in these battles to win you don't realise a lot of things. When it is taken away you appreciate what you normally take for granted.

"At this club, we are used to the demands of winning trophies. When we don't win for one year it feels like a long time. I know how difficult it is to win and that drives me on to get more.

"It feels like a challenge. Are you able to do it again? Are you able to sustain the level? That is the mentality of this team. The manager is the one who teaches us that way. He's the first one with such desperation and hunger to win again and again, even though he's already won so much."