Rodri would play “almost every day” for Manchester City if he was fit says Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has offered a show of confidence with regards to Rodri’s prospects for the rest of the season after a relatively stop-start beginning due to injury frustration.

The Manchester City midfielder has faced a frustrating few months since returning from the ACL injury that ruled him out for much of last season. Despite making his comeback in the latter stages of the 2024/25 campaign, Rodri has struggled to gain consistent rhythm in the early months of the new term, with muscular setbacks and ongoing knee discomfort.

Manchester City’s medical staff have continued to monitor the 29-year-old closely amid fears of recurrence in the same knee that caused last season’s long lay-off. Guardiola has also urged caution in managing Rodri’s workload, emphasising the importance of balancing the player’s influence on the pitch with the long-term goal of ensuring full recovery and fitness.

Nevertheless, there remains belief within the club that the Spain international will rediscover his imperious form as the campaign progresses, particularly with Manchester City still competing across multiple fronts.

Speaking during a new conversation with journalist Mónica Marchante around Villarreal against Manchester City , Guardiola spoke at length regarding the situation that faces Rodri , and the club’s efforts to prevent further injury problems.

“If Rodri were fit, I would play him almost every day, but that’s the situation he’s in,” Guardiola admitted. “Everyone knows that when you have an injury as serious as the one Rodri had last year, there are always setbacks.”

The Manchester City manager continued, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness , “We tried to prevent Rodri from having those setbacks, but unfortunately, he has had one or two since the start of the league.

“Rodri is now going to recover well and come back strong. And at that point, we will try to give him the minutes he needs so that he doesn’t relapse.”

Despite the ongoing concerns and disappointment among Manchester City supporters regarding their 2024 Ballon d’Or winning midfielder, Guardiola insisted that he is personally confident “we’ll see his [Rodri] best” this season.

Earlier this month, Pep Guardiola confirmed that Rodri would not feature against either Villarreal or Aston Villa, citing muscular issues and the need for patience in his reintegration process.

Looking ahead, Manchester City’s plan appears focused on ensuring Rodri is in peak condition for the decisive phase of the season. Should Guardiola’s cautious approach pay off, City could be boosted by a fully fit Rodri heading into the spring, undoubtedly strengthening their pursuit of silverware and bringing stability to the heart of their midfield.